Water Wisdoms | March 2021 Newsletter
MWMC 2020 Annual Report
Our 2020 Annual Report is here! Through the many challenges 2020 brought, our team has stayed committed to effectively and sustainably cleaning wastewater for the Eugene-Springfield area. We're proud of all the work we have done to support our community during this difficult time and invite you to explore our Annual Report to learn more.

We are comprised of three partner agencies: the Cities of Eugene and Springfield and Lane County, with approximately 96 staff working on behalf of the MWMC. The support of our seven-member Commission and our ratepayers is what helps us continue to achieve our mission of cleaning water for the region.
Commission Appoints New President and Vice President
At the Friday, March 12 MWMC Meeting, the Commission voted to appoint Eugene City Councilor Jennifer Yeh to the position of MWMC President and Springfield City Councilor Joe Pishioneri to the position of MWMC Vice President. Yeh previously served as MWMC Vice President and has been on the Commission since 2017. Pishioneri has served on the Commission since 2015 and has previously served in both the President and Vice President roles. Each of their terms will be for one year, through March 2022. Congratulations to President Yeh and Vice President Pishioneri! We look forward to all the MWMC will continue to accomplish under their and the entire Commission's leadership.
MWMC Treatment Plant Among Most Energy Efficient in Nation
The MWMC is proud to be a leader in energy efficiency and sustainability. Last year, we began working with engineering consultants to identify and evaluate opportunities to enhance energy efficiencies and performance of the secondary treatment process, which takes place in our aeration basins. Aeration basins use more energy than any other process at our plant, and they perform a critical treatment step: removal of dissolved organic matter by microorganisms that eat the pollutants out of the water.

Our consultants compared our Wastewater Treatment Plant's aeration basin energy efficiency with 47 other plants across the country and found that we are among the most energy efficient! This comparison was based on aeration basin energy efficiency data from a variety of reports, including WaterWatts: A Modern Look at Wastewater Power-Metering Data, 2017 from the Water Research Foundation and Water Environment & Reuse Foundation.

We are committed to protecting water quality through sustainable and fiscally responsible practices, and operating our treatment systems as efficiently as possible is part of how we accomplish that vision. To learn more about our various sustainability efforts, click here.
Did You Know?
The reason aeration basins use more energy than any other treatment process at our plant is because of the air required for microbes to do their job optimally. This process of oxidation, or adding oxygen, is essential for the microbes to effectively eat organic matter out of the water.

Air diffusers at the bottom of the basins pump the air in, and they need energy to operate. If you tried to swim in the aeration basins, you couldn't because there is so much air you would sink to the bottom! To learn more about this process and the small bugs that make a big impact in the treatment of wastewater, check out our Microorganisms video for Clean Water University.

Pictured to the left is an aeration basin after it was drained. Air diffusers can be seen at the bottom of the basin.
Celebrating Clean Water & Water Conservation
World Water Day
Monday, March 22 is World Water Day, a day to recognize what water means to people, its true value and how we can better protect it. Water connects us as a resource needed by all living things to survive. We'll be sharing what water means to us at the MWMC this week on our social media channels and invite you to consider your water why. To learn more about World Water Day from the United Nations, click here.
Fix a Leak Week
Today is the first day of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Fix a Leak Week (March 15-21). Household leaks can waste nearly one trillion gallons of water annually nationwide, and Fix a Leak Week is a great opportunity to hunt down the drips. According to the EPA, 10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. Not only is this a loss for water conservation, you'll likely also see it in your water bill over time. For tips on how to check your toilet, faucets and showerheads for leaks, click here.
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