HOLYOKE – Two groups of youth from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke were given environmental sessions at the Holyoke Wastewater Treatment Facility last week by United Water employees. Our youth learned how their wastewater is treated and made clean by simulating water treatment through a working model.
Val Partyka, United Water project facility coordinator, built the working model himself, which took nearly 120 hours. He said the idea of creating the model came to him after having to give a presentation at the end of a recent course.
“There is lost knowledge with the aging workforce. I asked myself, ‘how can I get more people interested in this work field?' I thought, ‘if we could do something at the grade school level to create some interest’... Then I thought, ‘if I could build a model that is interactive so the kids could actually partake in the water treatment, they could learn something and have fun’,” said Mr. Partyka. The Boys & Girls Club called looking for an opportunity for their youth to learn about the Wastewater Treatment Facility during their environmental camp. “I said, ‘now’s the opportunity’,” adding he began construction on the model immediately at his home. Mr. Partyka built the model in five 2’x4’ sections, allowing the model to be easily transported. “I designed it so that I can take the tables into science classrooms or to other groups,” said Mr. Partyka.
” Youth who participated in the environmental camp made their own wastewater by crushing up cereal and mixing it with chocolate syrup and coffee grounds. Once it was mixed with water they were given a chance to pour the wastewater down a pipe and watch it move through the simulated treatment of the water.
“Would we want that water to go to the river,” Partyka asked the children as they watched the wastewater run through the clear pipes.
Celine Cruz, 9, said her favorite part of the day was helping to make the water clean.
“We poured the dirty water in, to make it clean water,” she said. “It’s fun.”
Not only were the children able to simulate the stages of wastewater treatment, they also learned how “bugs” (microorganisms) team up with mechanical processes and equipment to clean wastewater, looked through microscopes and observed the microorganisms at work, and tested the water’s PH levels. Finally, the campers were encouraged to help keep the Connecticut River clean.
Mr. Partyka said he couldn’t have been more happy with the way the two sessions went. “After yesterday’s session I was on cloud nine,” he said. “It was everything I had planned. I wanted to get the kids excited and that what's going on".
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