| August 19, 2003
News Release A task force of teachers described its vision today of "an environmental education facility that processes wastewater." The teachers recommended that vision in a report to local officials planning and considering the Brightwater wastewater treatment plant. The eight-member Brightwater Teachers' Task Force presented its recommendations for an environmental teaching and community center to officials at a meeting in Kenmore. With teachers from the Northshore and Lake Washington school districts, the task force developed its recommendations in June and July following earlier discussions about how Brightwater could help meet educational goals. "We had all heard about Brightwater and wanted to make sure it's done right," said Aaron Feik, task force coordinator and president of the Northshore Education Association. "Wastewater treatment is part of life -- the cycle of life, and construction of Brightwater gives us a unique opportunity to use real life to help science concepts come alive for students." Brightwater must be running by 2010 to serve the rapidly growing population in north King County and south Snohomish County. The regional wastewater treatment utility operated by King County has been protecting public health and water quality in the Brightwater service area for nearly 40 years. "We are excited about the teachers' vision," said Christie True, capital program manager for King County's Wastewater Treatment Division. "These are the kinds of community ideas that will help Brightwater be more than a wastewater treatment facility. Helping students and the public understand wastewater treatment and people's impact on the environment is a concept worth exploring." The task force's multiple recommendations include the following:
"Brightwater provides an incredible facility that's full of possibility," said John Schmied, a science teacher at Skyview Junior High School in Bothell who provided strategic planning and coordination for the task force. "We recommend an integrated community environmental learning center where kids can learn and residents can meet." Key elements in the environmental center could be an exhibit hall, community hall, laboratories, classrooms and library. Outside the center and in the treatment plant could be secure viewing areas, interpretive signs and displays, nature study areas, trails along wetlands and creeks, and demonstration areas. "Thousands of students tour our existing treatment plants every year," True said. "A better quality, more cost-effective tour program will result from designing Brightwater for this use from the beginning. We can save money by integrating the teachers' recommendations into our design process at the beginning." The task force also recommended using existing science curricula and developing a wastewater curriculum for use by teachers using the center. The curricula could cover six themes: water, ecosystems and ecology, environmental stewardship, wastewater treatment, energy and technology. "We created a multiple theme rationale that would educate and enlighten students and the community," Schmied said. "That rationale is, 'Once you see, you become responsible.'" For running the center, the task force recommended various alternatives:
"Our recommendation is to secure stable and sufficient annual operation and maintain funding to ensure a quality program," Feik said. The annual fund could include money from Brightwater mitigation funds, a wastewater bill surcharge, and sale of biosolids, reclaimed water or energy generated by Brightwater. Supplemental funding could come from public and private grants, business underwriting, rental and user fees, a fee for education services and gift shop sales. The task force also recommended that it continue to advise Brightwater officials in designing the educational center and developing the environmental curriculum. "Ideas that require more resources will be considered during our future mitigation discussions," True said. "There are many ideas for mitigation. Many of these ideas work together and enhance one another. We'll have a process with the permitting jurisdictions to determine the suitable mitigation package." Task force members are Mike Reid, John Schmied, Kezia Cockrill and Danyel Joyner of the Northshore School District; Marie Hartford, Brian Healy and Mike Town of the Lake Washington School District; and Aaron Feik, president of the Northshore Education Association. The regional wastewater treatment utility operated by King County protects public health and water quality for 18 cities, 15 sewer districts and more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. Related Information
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