3 minute read
Learning About Our Source Water
Community Outreach Program Aims to Teach Value of Water
Skagit Public Utility District’s Judy Reservoir
Water is one of life’s most precious elements. We have the same amount of water today as we did when the Earth was formed.
Many people take for granted the simple act of turning on a faucet and getting a cold glass of water. Through community and school
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group tours of Skagit Public Utility District’s Judy Reservoir, visitors can now discover how their water is cleaned and made safe to drink before it’s piped out to 70,000 people in Skagit County.
Taking Science Outside
As a way to create greater awareness around the value of water, Skagit PUD offers area schools a unique science and social studies opportunity called The Story of Drinking Water. The program is an exploration of water’s role in our environment and society, with an emphasis on the importance of a safe and reliable water supply.
The Story of Drinking Water program covers subjects and activities such as the hydrologic cycle, forms of water, water supply, water treatment, water distribution, conservation, weather, ecosystems, waterborne diseases, and more.
“All activities adhere to science curriculum, and many include math, social studies and language arts,” Skagit PUD Community Relations Manager Kevin Tate said.
To help teachers take science outside the classroom setting, Skagit PUD also offers free field trips that include a tour of Judy Reservoir, the Water Treatment Plant, and a visit into the watershed. Transportation reimbursement is available for schools served by Skagit PUD water.
Did You Know? Formed in 1936, Skagit PUD operates the largest water system in the county, providing nine million gallons of piped water to approximately 70,000 people every day in the cities of Mount Vernon, Burlington, and Sedro-Woolley. The PUD maintains over 650 miles of pipelines.
Interpretive Displays
Colorful interpretive displays are installed inside and out at Judy Reservoir and the Water Treatment Plant for visitors to enjoy.
From learning about the different phases in the water cycle to identifying the varied wildlife found in the Cultus Mountain watershed, the displays visually reinforce many of the concepts and processes discussed during tours of the facility and a visit to a source water stream,” Tate said.
Visitors learn about the sources of their water, plus the processes of coagulation, flocculation, filtration, and disinfection that drinking water must go through before distribution.
Protecting Water Resources
Constant use and pollution threaten water resources. Experts estimate that nonpoint pollution, that is, agricultural and urban runoff combined with pollution by individuals, threatens our water resources more than industrial pollution.
Each of us has a role in keeping water safe to drink. It’s important to take action to conserve and protect our water resources every day.
Skagit PUD hopes The Story of Drinking Water school program and community tours encourage an appreciation for this precious resource and inspires the adoption of personal conservation measures to protect our waters for future generations. For more information about community group and school tours, please visit SkagitPUD.org or call (360) 424-7104.
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