Fresh AIRE

Green Building on Columbia Pike

Did you know this month marks 5 years since the release of An Inconvenient Truth?

No, Columbia Pike won't be underwater now or anytime in the foreseeable future.  But regardless of your view of Al Gore’s Academy Award-winning film, we have seen tremendous change in the past 5 years.  From dining room conversations to CEO round tables, Arlingtonians have been discussing climate change, fuel efficiency, renewable energy, and a more sustainable way of life.

Win $15k to Enhance Your Favorite Park!

The Arlington County Park and Recreation Commission is offering Park Enhancement Grants of up to $15,000 to resident groups to initiate small capital improvement and beautification projects for County parks and recreation facilities. Letter of intent to apply is due June 30. Learn more and read the PEG Program Guidelines FY 2012.

Visiting Arlington's Water Treatment Plant: A Student's Perspective



I'm Ashley and I am a sophomore at HB Woodlawn. I am working with Fresh AIRE as part of an internship for school credit, and this is my second blog post.  My first post focused on energy tracking and savings.  Today I'll share my perspective on Arlington's water treatment facitily.

 

The Water Pollution Control Plant, it’s one of those things where if everything goes well, the public never hears about. The plant is located off of South Glebe Road and Jefferson Davis Highway, right near the border of Alexandria. It actually handles about 30 million gallons of wastewater each day, and even more if it rains. 

 

We toured different parts of the plant, including primary, secondary and tertiary treatment sites. We first toured the third smelliest building, which was in fact, primary treatment. The primary treatment uses a lot of physical properties to filter wastewater. The wastewater is filtered using machines that look like big rakes.