Photos: HMB High School students learn Sewer Science

Students who are learning biology and life science take a tour of the wastewater treatment plant during the week-long Sewer Science program sponsored by Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside at Half Moon Bay High School.

On the fourth day of the week's Sewer Science curriculum, students examine and identify microorganisms at testing stations during classroom instruction. The following day, students filtered their simulated wastewater through a tertiary treatment process (tube apparatus located in the forefront of the picture).

Half Moon Bay High School biology teacher Barbara Lohman oversees the next steps of wastewater treatment where students transferred simualted wastewater from the sedimentation tank to the aeration basin. The simulated wastewater was created by combining items commonly disposed of down the drain such as vegetable oil, ammonia, toilet paper, pet food, baking soda, breakfast cereal and used coffeee grounds. Throughout the steps of treating their simulated wastewater, students tested oxygen demand, pH and turbidity levels of the water.