Our work goes down the drain...and hits the spotlight

Hillsboro, OR — November 08, 2006 — Do you ever think about what happens after you flush? Hollywood does. DreamWorks' new movie "Flushed Away" takes a hilarious look at life in the underground world of the sewer system. The movie highlights an important infrastructure you may take for granted since it is mostly out of sight and therefore, out of mind.

But sewer utility workers don’t want you to just “flush and forget.” We want you to remember that we do our job 24/7 to protect public health. Whether the water comes from your sink, toilet, dishwasher, or washing machine it is handled with the utmost respect once it disappears from your home. In Washington County, over 95% of homes, businesses and industries are part of our close-knit family. And more than 769 miles of sewer line carry an average of 58 million gallons of wastewater per day to one of four treatment plants. Our biologists, water quality specialists, engineers, and hydrologists ensure that the wastewater is cleaned to the highest standards in the nation before returning it to the Tualatin River.

While “Flushed Away” has its share of colorful and boastful critters including an evil frog who rules with a vengeance, we value the tiny creature we call “Gus, the Good Bug.” He’s the bacteria that eats up the organic matter and turns it into beneficial biosolids we reuse as a crop nutrient on agricultural land. He may be small, but his bite is stronger than his bark. Our other featured characters include:

• Barney the Bar Screen who collects and removes large objects such as toys and rags.
• Patty the Primary Treatment Tank who forces gravel and heavy matter to separate and settle at the bottom near her feet.
• Mike the Secondary Treatment Tank (Patty’s twin) who’s filled with oxygen and houses Gus and his airhead brothers.
• Dana Disinfection whose chlorine components kill harmful bacteria—Gus’ evil cousins.

Go see the movie. Then come and tour our treatment facilities to see our cast performing their best to protect your family’s health. Although most of our work is behind the scenes, I guarantee it is dazzling and worth a red carpet moment.

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