On Tuesday, May 19, the City of Grants Pass Public Works Crews went to Allendale School and showed the kids all about Public Works.
There were interactive booths set up to highlight the different divisions of Public Works
First stop was the Streets Division! Here the kids got to see a lot of different equipment our crews use to keep the Streets of Grants Pass safe. They got to get a close look at a dump truck and a backhoe!
Then, they got to see how our Crews put stripes down on the street and in parking lots.
Last stop in the Streets Division was the Sign area. The kids learned the what different types of signs mean and got to see them up close. They also got to see what sorts of material is used to paint on the sidewalks and streets.
After learning about the equipment and signs the Streets Division uses, the kids followed the path water takes as it moves through the system. First, it has to be pulled out of the Rogue River, filtered, and cleaned. The kids got to see a display of how the Water Filtration Plant cleans the impurities out of the water.
After the water is cleaned and ready to drink, it has to be delivered to the homes and businesses of Grants Pass. This is done with the help of the Water Distribution Department. This department showed the kids how a hydrant works and explained about all the distribution pipes which run under the City with good, clean water.
After the clean water is used and becomes dirty, the Wastewater Collection Department then gets busy collecting all of this dirty water. They explained to the kids how they use their big, green Jet-Vac truck to clean out manholes by using the vacuum or jetting water through.
Then, they showed the kids the closed-circuit camera, which is used to look at the inside of the pipes. The kids were really excited to get to go into the camera truck and watch their friends on the closed-circuit television. The camera is a robot, and the kids enjoyed seeing all the ways the "face" on the camera can look around.
After the dirty water is collected in the sewer pipes, what happens? Well, it goes to the Water Restoration Plant. This is where the waste is screened, and treated to make it clean again, and it is released into the River. There was a display of things which had been removed from the sewer - things that did not belong there; like a rubber duckie, clothes, and toys. There were pictures on display of toilets in third-world countries, reminding everyone how lucky we are to live in a place with such an amazing system set in place to handle our drinking water and waste.
The solids, which are removed at the Water Restoration Plant, are then taken to the JOGRO composting facility, where they are mixed with leaves, brush, and wood chips to make Compost! The kids got to learn how they test the compost to make sure it is perfect, and then they got to take home a PAWS coloring book and a packet filled with compost and a sunflower seed to plant!
The City staff as well as the kids had a great day. We can't wait until next year!