Brightwater Treatment Plant hosts a variety of activities, classes

At first, the site of a wastewater treatment plant seems a strange place for community events.

Yet, the Brightwater Education and Community Center on Highway 9, just north of the Snohomish County-King County line, hosts several events each month. People visit the plant to learn about gardening, bugs or birds. They learn how to protect our water supplies and wander the trails looking for wildlife.

The Brightwater Treatment Plant, which cleans the wastewater for north King County and south Snohomish County, vanishes into the background. There’s no smell, and the grounds are landscaped with small ponds and trails leading off into the distance.

Brightwater Center offers community events all year to educate people about clean water and environmental stewardship.

A recent program, Water Bug Bonanza, sent kids and parents, nets in hand, outside to collect bugs from ponds along the trails. Even on a rainy day, dozens of kids decked out in rain gear and boots stood in the ponds, sweeping little nets through the water.

Brandon Clark, of Bothell, attended the event with his wife, Errin, and their two kids.

“They had a lot of fun,” he said. “They caught a few bugs and a lot of sticks.” It was their first vist, but they plan to return for more events at the center.

Brightwater hosts several such events each month. A series that started last month and runs through March focuses on natural lawn care.

The session this Saturday will teach gardeners about picking the right plants for their yard. Also Saturday, an event called What’s Love Got To Do With It? will let mature kids and adults learn about the reproduction of plants and animals.

Then on Feb. 27, the treatment plant will be open for a tour. These tours are held monthly. About 5,000 students also tour the plant each school year.

Brighwater is one of three treatment plants run by King County. When it was built in Snohomish County, part of the deal was that $140 million be used for community projects. That included putting a community building on the site with space for meetings, events and education. There are two science labs that can be used for classes.

“The public told us they wanted the community center, as well as the quality environmental education programming,” said Annie Kolb-Nelson, communications specialist for King County.

The science labs were in use during the Water Bug Bonanza. Families came in with various bugs in little containers, then slipped them under a microscope to take a closer look. Members of the IslandWood staff helped kids figure out what bugs they’d found.

IslandWood is one of several groups that partner with Brightwater in its community outreach programs.

Another group is the Snohomish County Conservation District, which is putting on the yard care series.

“It’s an exponential effect,” said Susan Tallarico, Brightwater Center’s director and education supervisor. “The more partnership we have, the bigger our reach can be.”

In addition to the community events, school groups often visit Brightwater for tours to learn more about the waste-water treatment process.

The students learn about water systems and what they can do to help improve them, Tallarico said.

In addition to the scheduled events, people visit Brightwater to walk their dogs, jog the 3 miles of trails, watch birds or visit the education center. The center has interactive exhibits that focus on water issues such as where it comes from and how it’s cleaned.

There are a number of fascinating and beautiful art exhibits around the property. One, a series of glass microrganisms blown up to huge proportions, shows microbes that are useful in the water treatment process. Another, “South Branch,” a series of pipes, directs water off the roof in an artistic flow. The art was funded by King County 1 percent for the arts, which directs 1 percent of all capital projects to funding public art.

And, truly, it doesn’t stink.

“We spent $65 million on odor control and it was worth every penny because we have not had one single odor complaint,” Kolb-Nelson said.

Jessi Loerch: 425-339-3430; jloerch@heraldnet.com.

If you go

What’s Love Got To Do With It? Adults and mature kids (parents can use their judgment on whether their child is mature enough) will learn about the reproductive techniques and strategies of local plants and animals from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. About 45 minutes will be lecture-style inside, the rest will be outdoors. Dress for the weather. $5 donation per family is welcome, but not required.

Plant right for your site: Learn how to choose the best plant for you needs while also minimizing the need for water, fertilizer and pesticide use at this free event, set for 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Learn methods for planting, composting and mulching that will help your yard thrive.

Treatment plant tour: The community is invited to see how wastewater is cleaned at a tour from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 27. Visitors need to be 9 and older. Free.

IslandWood will host summer camps at Brightwater in the summer. Go to http://islandwood.org/camps for information.