Eastern Municipal Water District's 'Curious Beings' wins CASA award

PERRIS, CA, Jan. 24, 2006 -- Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) was honored on Jan. 20 with a California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) 2005 achievement award. The awards recognize the achievements of publicly owned wastewater treatment agencies throughout California.

Malea Ortloff, EMWD education specialist, accepted the award for her education program's "Wastewater Treatment for Curious Beings" presentation. The presentation uses entertaining and colorful characters to explain the basics of the wastewater treatment process from the time sewage leaves a home until the treated wastewater and solids are recycled.

EMWD was one of two winners in the Public/Outreach Education Award category. This category recognizes an agency's efforts for development and implementation of programs intended to impact or educate a segment of the local community on issues important to the agency. The other agency recognized in this category was Big Bear Regional Wastewater Agency.

EMWD's presentation was created with a $5,000 grant from Metropolitan Water District's Community Partnering Program. The grant will also fund an activity book that will be distributed to schools within EMWD's service area in 2006.

According to Malea, "What the presentation really shows well is how we recycle during the entire wastewater treatment process, even the methane gas. Kids and adults can gain a greater understanding of the wastewater treatment process and how to be conscious of what they put the drain."

CASA was formed in 1955 to provide proactive leadership, innovative solutions, timely education and information to CASA members, legislators and the public. CASA promotes partnerships on wastewater issues with other organizations to achieve sound public health and environmental goals.

All curious beings can view the presentation and get more information about EMWD's education program online at www.emwd.org/learning.

EMWD (www.emwd.org) serves a 555-square mile area from Moreno Valley to Temecula, and from Hemet and San Jacinto to Good Hope and Mead Valley. Approximately 570,000 people live and work in this area. In addition to its own water customers, EMWD supplements water to eight local water agencies and municipalities that have their own water departments. EMWD operates four water reclamation facilities and treats some 43 million gallons of wastewater daily.

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