The Castle High School biochemistry class received a grant from the Alcoa Foundation for a water testing community service project. Students used testing kits to test different community water samples and visited the testing laboratory and treatment plant to see how the process works.

We learned on the East Wastewater Treatment Plant site visit that prior to the Clean Water Act, the primary treatment process of effluent water was generally disinfected and sent to the river by municipalities and industries. Now, the minimum treatment required before discharge is secondary. This has resulted in significant improvement in the quality of the water in the Ohio River. The improvement created by secondary treatment has been extremely beneficial, both to the environment and community of the Evansville area.

We were especially intrigued by the utilization of biological treatments to break down the waste into a useful form. The advancement of technology and biological understanding that has influenced this highly efficient method of water treatment is truly remarkable. During the tour of the treatment plant we learned of many of the crucial chemical processes involved in water treatment and waste management; we now have a much greater understanding and appreciation of things that too often are taken for granted.

We would like to thank the Alcoa Foundation (who awarded us the grant for the project) and the Evansville Utility for providing this opportunity for educational enrichment. The practical, hands on learning of the water testing kits (used in a lab activity prior to visits) in combination with the thorough tours of the laboratory and treatment plant were very beneficial and greatly appreciated.

This Community Comment was submitted by Chris Bauer, Sammie Dillman, Jacob Tilmon, Austin Vaughn, Sarah Wagmeister and Lauren Wahle.

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COMMUNITY COMMENT: Castle biochemistry class says thanks for lab tour