A water science and infrastructure workshop for educators

Join Pittsburgh Water for an immersive day of water education designed with educators in mind at Pittsburgh Water’s Treatment Plant! There is no cost to attend!

Educators attending this workshop will have a variety of learning opportunities throughout that day, including a guided tour of the treatment plant, special water quality science and infrastructure topic presentations, and a hands-on, PA STEELS-linked curriculum mini-workshop to bring real-world water education topics to life in the classroom.

Teachers will receive free classroom resources as well as a STEELS-linked curriculum guide and hands-on STEM Activity Guide.

You must register to attend; no walk-ins will be permitted. You must attend the entire day to receive your resources.

5 hours of ACT 48 are available. Lunch is provided.


Our Agenda:
 

• Source Water Protection Presentation: An in-depth presentation on the Allegheny River, which serves as the source water for over 520,000 people in the Pittsburgh area. We will discuss the geology and hydrology of the river as well as historic and current human impacts arising from agriculture, mining, energy production, economics, legislative actions, remediation, and green infrastructure interventions.  
   
• Interactive Plant Tour: Teachers will be guided through the treatment plant, observing each stage of the treatment process, including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. We will observe the machinery, technology and professional roles involved in the treatment of surface water.  
   
• Climate Change and Emerging Trends Study: Educators will learn from our Water Quality Manager about emerging trends that affect water quality. The discussion will include information on hazardous algal blooms, watershed-level monitoring, and an interactive microscopy study of algal slides.
   
• Hands-on mini-STEELS workshop: Teachers will participate in two STEM lab-style classroom activities about water quality science and treatment topics. These fun and interactive experiments will demonstrate how the activities can be implemented and modified to meet the abilities of learners from grades 5 through high school. Teachers will receive materials related to each activity so they can implement these fun, hands-on activities in the classroom.

• Careers in Water | Youth Career Exploration: Educators will work with our Workforce Development Manager to gain tools and resources that support students in exploring career options in the water industry. Career exploration programs help young people identify their interests and skills through various activities. With many upcoming retirements in the water utility sector, it's vital to motivate the next generation to pursue careers in this field.
   
• Lead Line Response: Teachers will discover the science and process of our lead line response including data tracking, the development of effective solutions, lessons learned and future plans.

Registration opens 1/8/2026 until filled.