Irvine Ranch Water District Operations Center

Wastewater Treatment Facility Tour

READ THROUGH THIS ENTIRE

PRIOR TO THE FIELDTRIP!

PACKET AS SOME OF THIS PACKET IS

DUE

THE CLASS

Fieldtrip Date:__________ Time to be @ buses: ___________ Time expected back @

IHS:__________
For the tour of the treatment plant you will need to have prepared three questions
to ask the guide. You will need to take notes, be prepared to ask your questions at
appropriate times.
Learning Objectives:

Discover how untreated wastewater can pollute a waterbody.

Discuss how using too much fertilizer can be detrimental to aquatic life.
Demonstrate the effects of an improperly located, maintained, or constructed
septic tank on groundwater.
Differentiate between different types of waste water treatment facilities
Classify pollution as point or nonpoint
Describe the wastewater treatment process
Discuss the benefits of wastewater treatment
Discuss the challenges of wastewater treatment

Questions to ask:
1) ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2) ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3) ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
The guide will discuss Irvine Purple pipes. What is special about the purple pipes,
found not only Irvine, but across the United States?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Activity 1 is due the class before the trip.

Activity 1: Classify the following as either point (P) or nonpoint (NP) source
pollution.

1. _____Boats in a lake.
2. _____Oil dumped in a swale.
3. _____Pipe discharge from a

wastewater
treatment plant into the river.
4. _____An animal owner neglecting to
clean
up their pets waste.
5. _____Homeowner washing driveway
with a
hose.
6. _____Automobile leaking brake fluid.

7. _____Construction site erosion.

8. _____Pouring lawn clippings into canal.
9. _____Factory illegally dumping waste
into local
waterbody.
10. _____Effluent from failing septic tank.
11. _____Pouring antifreeze down the
storm drain.
12. _____Spraying garden to eliminate
bugs.
13. _____Over fertilizing a yard.
14. _____Runoff from a parking lot.

True/ False
______ Stormwater runoff carries sediments, nutrients, and bacteria into
waterbodies.
______ A septic tank requires little or no maintenance once installed.
______ Excess fertilizing has no effect on aquatic plants and animals.
______ Dumping household hazardous waste down the storm drain is acceptable.
______ Soil erosion increases the turbidity of water.
______ It is important to repair automobile gas or oil leaks promptly.
Activity 2: To complete during tour of treatment plant.
List the inputs, throughputs and outputs of wastewater treatment.
Inputs

Throughputs

Outputs

Describe the waste water treatment process.

Be sure to use the following terms: Bacteria, Pollution Sedimentation, Infiltration
Disinfectant, Treatment, Sludge, Filtration, Bio-solids, and Aeration

Activity 4: Draw and Label two of the components of the wastewater treatment
facility. Choose from the following: grit tank, primary sedimentation tank,
secondary sedimentation tank, aeration tank, disinfectant tank, dewatering, sludge
tank, headworks, and filtration. Other facility specific components are acceptable.
1.

2.