High school students learn how drinking water is treated during the 2016 WaterWorks summer program.

Water is a fitting topic for summer. But instead of recreational activities, a number of Seattle area teachers and students undertook more studious pursuits. As part of the UW CEE WaterWorks summer program, teachers and students were introduced to the field of environmental engineering, with a focus on learning about the water supply and treatment process.

The free summer program, held from August 15-26, consisted of two separate week-long workshops, one for teachers and a second for students. The program introduced Seattle-area teachers and students to various aspects of the water supply and treatment process through a mix of labs, lectures and field trips.

During the first week, nine teachers participated in labs and field trips and had an opportunity to plan new learning modules, which they will take back to their classes this fall. Participating teachers also received a starter kit of lab supplies to take back to their schools.

During the second week of the program, 15 high school students who will enter grades 11-12 in the fall learned how drinking water is treated through labs and lectures. The students also toured the Cedar River Watershed, Tolt Water Treatment Facility and Brightwater Treatment Plant.

Led by CEE Associate Professor Michael Dodd, the workshops are supported by a National Science Foundation grant, with the goal of educating the next generation of environmental engineers.

Seattle-area teachers tour Seattle Public Utilities’ Tolt River Water Treatment Plant during the WaterWorks summer program.