MWMC Hosts 2025 Clean Water University

The MWMC was pleased to host over 500 5th-grade students, teachers, and parents in October at Clean Water University! This educational event is used in conjunction with an online curriculum to teach children about the water cycle, how humans use and clean water, aquatic environments and wildlife, and various other facets of water science. We work in conjunction with other agencies to represent stormwater, drinking water, and wastewater, and how they work together to clean water.

MWMC Launches "One Water" Educational Resources

Over the past year, the MWMC has been developing new resources for a collaborative educational program called "One Water." All water is connected through the water cycle, and our cities' water systems - stormwater, drinking water, and wastewater - are interconnected. Thinking of water as one collective resource helps us understand the big picture of the work that all water utilities do.

To educate community members about the One Water principle, the MWMC and other local water agencies worked together to create graphics and key points. MWMC also developed a website and an animated video as resources that all participating agencies can use in their outreach efforts.

MWMC Wins Second Utility of the Future Today Award

The MWMC has received its second Utility of the Future Today award from the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies! This year's award recognizes the MWMC as a leading utility in partnerships and community engagement, especially for its collaborations with The Freshwater Trust and its active involvement in water associations, as well as its 2025 pollution prevention digital advertising campaign. This award can be renewed every three years, and the MWMC previously earned it in 2022 for the resource recovery area through the Renewable Natural Gas project. 

James McClendon, Finance & Administrative Manager for the City of Eugene's Wastewater Division, accepted the award on behalf of the MWMC at the 2025 WEF Tech Conference in Chicago. James, pictured above holding the framed award, received it from the WEF Awards Committee.

MWMC Participating in Local World Toilet Day Event

The MWMC will be tabling at Greywater Action's World Toilet Day event, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 19, at Whirled Pies in Eugene. This free, fun, and educational event about toilets will include presenters, trivia, exhibits, informational booths, and more!

Pollution Solutions

Pharmaceuticals are complex chemicals that have a variety of benefits and help fight disease. However, they can be harmful to plants and aquatic animals when they end up in our waters. Wastewater treatment plants (including the MWMC'S) aren't able to remove medications from the water, which means they can pass through the water cleaning process into our natural waterways.

That's why it's essential to dispose of medications properly through a Med Take-Back location. These Med Take-Back sites are located across Eugene and Springfield and are either “drop-off” or “mail-back.” The mail-back sites offer free packaging, allowing you to mail them from home at no cost. This prevents your unused medication from polluting waterways.