As part of its continuing educational program to educate the community about water quality, treatment and delivery, the Bethpage Water District hosted over 200 students from the Charles Campagne Elementary School, Kramer Lane Elementary School and the Central Boulevard School. During the tours which took place June 4, 5 and 6, 11 different classes experienced a hands-on, behind-the-scenes look at the District's water treatment facility, learning about the water treatment cycle, water conservation, where their drinking water comes from as well as a sampling of the fresh, clean, high-quality drinking water that is produced at the Plant 6 location.
"This is more than just a tour for the students," said Lorraine Marcis, Science Enrichment Director, Bethpage School District. "This is an integral part of our science curriculum. During these visits, students gain a deeper understanding of the environmental processes of how the clean water they consume every day is delivered to their homes and schools."
Michael Boufis, Bethpage Water District Superintendent, provided the students with his first-hand knowledge and expertise during each class visit and brought the students up-close within the inner-workings of the $17 million, state-of-the-art facility. The District has designed, built and continuously maintains the most advanced and complex drinking water treatment systems in the nation. The District is considered a leader in New York State in terms of delivering an uninterrupted supply of high-quality drinking water to their community.
"It is critical for the younger generations to understand the importance of providing clean drinking water. During these visits and tours, we educate them about where their drinking water comes from and share with the students an appreciate of the complexities of the water treatment process," said Bethpage Water District Commissioner Teri Catapano Black. "Providing high-quality, clean drinking water has been our mission over the last 100 years. Utilized and implementing the latest and most advanced water technology, we will continue this mission for another 100 years."
During the tour, students saw and were taught how water treatment methods work, such as the well pump, air stripper, Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) and Granular Activated Carbon (GAC). Students also got to witness the equipment and technology up-close, giving them a better understanding of how the District performs, 24-7-365, to keep a plentiful amount of water flowing for the community.