The Most Important Place on Campus You’ll Never Visit
It may not be pretty or smell great, but the wastewater plant is a crucial part of campus.
By: Mikayla Hill
Most of us at the University of New England don’t think about what happens after we use the bathroom, do our laundry or even take a shower. We don’t give a second thought about where our dirty used water may be going. We flush, brush our teeth, and do dishes daily, but where does this water we use go?
A lot of students at UNE don’t know that they have their own wastewater treatment plant. This means that all the water you use on campus everyday doesn’t simply just “go away” but is treated right here on campus before being released back into the environment.
What Is a Wastewater Plant?
Wastewater is any “used” water from toilets, sinks, laundry machines, labs, and kitchens. If it is not treated properly, a lot of outcomes may result. It could pollute water, harm wildlife, or have a harmful impact on the environment.
Unlike many colleges in the area that pump their wastewater into a shared system, UNE has its own plant. “We treat about 80,000 gallons of water a day, and the water comes from kitchens, bathrooms, and labs” said Tim Baker, a contractor hired by UNE to operate the plant. “It’s a biological system that uses the same bacteria that is found on slimy rocks in a stream.”
The water in the plant undergoes many processes before it can be put back into the environment. The treatment process includes filtering out solids, decomposing waste using bacteria such as the slime on rocks, and then disinfecting the water before it is put back into the ocean.
Why It Matters at UNE
UNE’s campus is right on the Saco River and ocean, which is why water quality is so important. If wastewater is not treated properly, it doesn’t just affect the campus but also the environment around it. UNE having its own plant helps alot with the control of the waste water. The university has more responsibility for the water they are treating. The plant must adhere to strict environmental laws, “
It is very easy to think that this has nothing to do with us, as students. However, it actually does.
What we put down the drain affects the treatment process. The university has guidelines on this. “Don’t flush wipes (even if they say ‘flushable’), don’t pour harsh chemicals down the sink, and don’t treat the toilet like a trash can.”
The bacteria used in the plant to break down waste are very sensitive. If harmful substances get into the system, it can disrupt the process that makes treatment possible.
One of the things that UNE talks a lot about is sustainability, and the wastewater plant is a big part of that. The university has been working hard to cut back on water usage, which means less wastewater to treat.
The Hidden Work That Keeps Campus Running
The interesting thing is how invisible the whole process is.
If the plant is working properly, we don’t have to think about it. But behind the scenes, there are trained professionals, monitoring systems, and maintenance. The plant must operate within environmental regulations 365 days a year, whether the campus is full of students during the semester or empty during breaks.
It’s one of those behind-the-scenes things that shows how much work goes into running a university, beyond the lectures and labs.
Looking Ahead
As climate change and water become scarcer, the importance of wastewater treatment will only continue to grow. Some universities around the country are beginning to reuse treated water for a cooling system that is cutting the overall water usage.
Why You Should Care
It’s so easy to just scroll past the sustainability emails or ignore the reminders about what not to flush. But when I think about the wastewater plant, it makes those reminders seem more real.
Each and every shower, laundry cycle, and sink full of dishes adds up. When you multiply that by thousands of students living here, water management becomes a massive process.
The wastewater plant may not be the most attractive part of campus, but it’s a reminder that sustainability is more than just recycling bins and water bottles.
So next time you flush the toilet, just remember there’s an entire process happening behind the scenes to make sure that water is cleaned and returned safely to the environment.
