Tomorrow’s field trip day here in the Cloacina Bubble. I am fulfilling a life long dream of mine, visiting a wastewater treatment center. After spending yesterday reading about Portland’s 140 acre wastewater treatment plant I can not wait to see this $13 million a year operation at work. Considering the disaster that is water borne sewage, Portland’s plant is one of the best in the nation.
Here’s my rough draft illustration of the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment process. I’m looking forward to fact checking my drawing with the engineers in person tomorrow morning (and they are too!). I hope they appreciate the new acronym I came up with for Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO), I’m now calling it SIR (Sh*t in River). SIR has been the city supported system of waste removal since the beginning of Portland. In 1952 they set up a system of screens to keep large debris from piling in to the river and then letting sediment sink to the bottom before dumping it in the Columbia River. My goodness you’re thinking, what a fantastically fresh take on the Cloaca Maxima. The Cloaca Maxima, built in 500 A.D. was a pipe (minus screens) that led to a swamp nearby.
If anyone wants to join the tour it’s free and we’d love company. Photography permitted.
Pam and I would like to go with you! Pam helped design the new digester they have there and is all excited to get to show me some of her work. We’d like to tag along if you don’t mind…
Demented
Hey do you know what engineers you will be talking with?
I have worked on several projects down there, and was wondering if Stan and I could tag along. I’d like to show off my digester control building design to Stan cause he has never seen it and was hoping that i knew one of the engineers taking you out.
Molly and Matthew,
It was great to meet with you at the City of Portland’s Columbia Blvd Wastewater Treatment Plant. I’ve only had a quick look at your site but am amazed at your creativity and concern with waste. An interesting link that I’ve stumbled upon recently is
http://www.livingmachines.com/water_facts/commentary/the_way_the_romans_did_why_we_need_a_new_paradigm/
This one from a commercial process invokes Roman models of infrastructure. More details and links can be found in this article:
http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/magazine/17-06/st_sewagegrid
which also has a link to an installation at PDX airport/Port of Portland.
Another field trip possibility!
Meg aka Petronella
Molly and Matthew, So sorry to miss this trip. Just got back. PHLUSH is meeting today (5:30 pm 203 NW 2nd) and we’ve been talking about field trips. Can we collaborate? Yes, indeed one is the Living Machine at the new Port of Portland HQ. Also the struvite recovery plant in Tigard, the Phoenix composting toilets at East Multnomah County Soil and Water District and Government Island, and maybe a tour of key backyards. How about a fall series? Carol