AP Environmental Science Class Visits Buffalo Water and Sewage Treatment Facilities

On December 3, 2009, Mr. Coia’s AP Environmental Science class toured two of Buffalo’s most important public works facilities.

In the first half of the day, students visited the Wastewater Treatment Plant located on Bird Island off West Ferry St. While there, students learned about the processes that clean Buffalo’s sewage and the jobs that people do to make that possible. The class was fascinated by the amount of waste produced by the city and how efficiently the facility manages to eliminate all the contaminants before sending the water back into the Niagara River.

After lunch, Oracle students toured the Colonel Ward Pumping Station/Water Treatment Plant. Students experienced the sequence of pumps, filters and treatments that take water from Lake Erie and turn it into clean, healthy water for the entire city. The highlight of this facility is the sight of the enormous steam pumps that fed the city its water until a few decades ago. This was an experience that the students will remember for a long time.

Many thanks to Oracle Charter School's Operations Manager, Bill Sunderlin, for setting up this field trip!