August 2025 What's on Tap Employee Newsletter

Dorthea Dix Park Sunflowers

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Raleigh Water Staff– Ready to Respond! pg. 3 Raleigh Water Facilities Earn National Recognition ……………………………..…….. pg. 4 - 5 New Interns + New Ideas = A Bright Future ……... pg. 6 Happy Fiscal New Year! ……………………………….…………………….….………………….. pg. 7 Waste Not, Want Not …………………………………………………………………………....…. pg. 8 - 9 Beating the Heat, the Right Way .………………………………………………………......... pg. 10 Nerding Out Over Water Research ……………...………………….......………………...... pg. 11 RW and City Budget Office Collaboration Day ...…………..……………………….…... pg. 12 Honolulu Officials Bring “ Aloha Spirit ” ……...…………………………………….…..…... pg. 13 Employee Spotlights ……..…………………………………..………………………………...…... pg. 14 What to Do With Biogas? …………………………………………………………………….... pg. 15 - 16 Bugs & Bears at the WasteTreatment Facility ………………………………………...…. pg. 17 THANK YOU so much to everyone who contributed items to the employee newsletter: Ryan Adkison, Kimberly Holmes - Iverson, James Sleeper, Jason Tibbrine, and Phoebe Trogolo If you have any items of interest that you would like to submit for the employee newsletter, please contact sarah.weisenburn@raleighnc.gov

KUDOS Contributed by: James Sleeper Tyler HAAS “ Service With a Smile ”

Dear Mr. Schroll,

I am writing to commend one of your water meter installers. His name is Tyler. He rang our doorbell this morning, and before I could answer he had already started working to replace our outside water meter. When I walked outside and asked what he was working on, he politely told me what he was doing and why. He was focused on his work, but was also friendly and an swered a couple of questions I had. He was such a pleasant person, I just wanted you to know he is a great ambassador for your department and the City of Raleigh!

Thanks to you and all the folks who provide us with clean water and keep it flowing.

Pam W.

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Ready to Respond: Hands - On CPR Training in Action Contributed by: Jason Tibbrine

In July, team members from across the department gathered for hands - on CPR training, and they didn ’ t miss a beat. With manikins lined up, this group practiced life - saving compressions and emergency response skills in a focused, realistic training session. Whether in the field or the office, knowing how to respond in a medical emergency can make a crucial difference, and this team showed up ready to learn.

Why does it matter? Medical emergencies can happen any where, on the job site, in the shop, or even at home. Performing CPR immediately can significantly increase a person ’ s chances of survival, especially in those critical first few minutes before emergency responders arrive.

What they learned: • Effective chest compression techniques • How to use an AED (automated external defibrillator) • Spotting the signs of cardiac arrest • Staying calm and acting until help arrives

Training like this strengthens more than just our safety skills — it builds confidence, sharpens focus, and reinforces the culture of care that runs through everything we do.

Preparedness starts with people who care — and this group proved it. Thanks to everyone who showed up and took this training to heart.

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Raleigh Water Facilities Earn National Recognition for Environmental Compliance

Contributed by: Kimberly Holmes - Iverson

Raleigh Water is proud to announce that three of its essential treatment facilities have been honored with the prestigious Platinum Peak Performance Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). This recognition celebrates an exceptional commitment to environmental protection, specifically for consistently achieving perfect compliance with environmental permits over many years. The Platinum Peak Performance Award recognizes facilities that achieve 100% compliance with environmental permits for five consecutive years or more. Raleigh's three plants have collectively surpassed this benchmark with an impressive 52 consecutive years of 100% compliance. This remarkable achievement highlights a sustained level of dedication and precision in environmental stewardship. "NACWA's annual recognition of perfect discharge permit compliance truly highlights the backbone of our industry," said Raleigh Water Assistant Director Scott Smart. "Our remarkable record, among the nation's best, is a direct result of the unwavering commitment, the technical prowess, and the sheer grit of our dedicated team. This isn't just about compliance; it's about the profound impact we have, and we couldn't be prouder of the people who make it happen every single day."

Raleigh Water's operational excellence shines brightly through the achievements of these facilities:

• Little Creek Resource Recovery Facility : Platinum 10: Recognized for an impressive 10 consecutive years of perfect compliance.

• Smith Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant : Platinum 20: Honored for an outstanding 20 consecutive years of flawless compliance.

• Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility : Platinum 22: Celebrated for an extraordinary 22 consecutive years of 100% compliance.

(Cont ’ d)

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This unparalleled level of success isn't by chance; it's the result of a sophisticated interplay of skilled individuals, rigorous processes, and cutting - edge technology. Here are some of the key ways the Raleigh Water team ensures such consistent excellence: • Building for the Future: They design and build facilities to be incredibly reliable, making sure there's always enough capacity to handle changing water flows, even during heavy rains. • Constant Vigilance: Advanced computer systems provide real - time monitoring and instantly alert staff to any potential issues, allowing for quick action. • Expert Daily Care : The team skillfully manages the complex day - to - day operations, adapting to the ever - changing conditions of the water coming into the plants. • Proactive Upkeep: Raleigh Water staff meticulously maintain all plant equipment and infrastructure to prevent any critical failures that could impact performance. • Rigorous Testing: Extensive laboratory analyses are performed on a routine basis to ensure the water meets strict permit requirements and to fine - tune treatment processes. This national recognition from NACWA profoundly underscores Raleigh Water's dedication to protecting public health and the environment by consistently exceeding regulatory standards in wastewater treatment. It ’ s a commitment that ensures the water released back into our natural systems is clean and safe for everyone. To celebrate these significant accomplishments, Raleigh Water was formally recognized by NACWA in a special ceremony on July 23 at the Utility Leadership Conference and 55th Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs, CO.

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New Interns + New Ideas = A Bright Future Cohort V Introduces 23 Interns to 19 Different Divisions within the City of Raleigh

Contributed by: Phoebe Trogolo

Join us in welcoming the latest group of 23 bright interns, making up Cohort V, to the City of Raleigh! This group will be sharing and growing their knowledge in several divisions throughout the City. We ’ re excited to see the fresh ideas and energy you ’ ll bring - especially to Raleigh Water.

For many college students, internships are a key step towards building their futures and gaining real - world experience in their chosen fields. The Community Climate Internship Program offers exactly that—an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students from around the Triangle area to serve the City of Raleigh across various departments, including Raleigh Water. During this 10 - week program, these hardworking individuals gain hands - on experience in local government and the chance to see their work make a real impact on the City we love. While internships are a valuable learning experience for students, the City of Raleigh is learning too. City of Raleigh employee Nina Barrett shared: “ Interns often bring fresh ideas, new approaches to projects, and a pulse on emerging trends. It ’ s always a two - way street, and we welcome the opportunity to learn from them just as much as we hope to teach them. ” We can ’ t wait to see our interns thrive! And because we ’ re so proud of them, here are a few 2024 - 2025 program stats: • 98% of interns earned a Partnership Raleigh Professional Development or Bank of America Workforce Development Academy credential • 52% of interns hired and completed the program were from underrepresented backgrounds • 100% of interns completed their academic pursuits, graduating from college or graduate school • 92% of fellows and interns secured employment post - program—either with the City of Raleigh or through a Partnership Raleigh nonprofit or business partner If you see our new interns around the Raleigh Water Lab, Water Treatment and Wastewater Treatment Plants, or working on Capital Improvement Projects, don ’ t hesitate to say hello... special shoutout to the Raleigh Water interns: Sydney Best, Luke Bernsten, Finley Cain, Paige Cook, Janiya Douglas, Jaylyn Durham, William Garrett, Marcus Gibbs, Leonard Johnson, Chayse Jones, Max Li, Tyler Mance, Hannah McCloskey, Rosa Ramirez - Garcia, Claudio Sanchez, Imani Taylor, Thomas Tobul and Tehya Weaver. We wish our interns a productive, fun summer and hope they walk away with a better understanding of how local government works to address environmental and community challenges. Barrett said it best: “ These lessons will serve them whether they continue in public service, the nonprofit sector, or private industry. ” Click HERE to see a video of our intern summer wrap up!

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Contributed by: Ryan Adkison

July 1 marked the start of Fiscal Year 2026 . To view the Raleigh Water Operating Budget Report and Capital Budget Report for Fiscal Year 2026, click these links:

FY26 Budget Report.pdf Raleigh Water FY 26 - FY 30 CIP Budget Book.pdf

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Waste Not, Want Not

Recycling Wastewater for Potable Use By: Lily Soetebier , Coastwatch

The earliest evidence of wastewater reuse dates back 5,000 years to the Minoans, an ancient civilization that occupied modern - day Crete. Their sewage and stormwater systems fed water to their farmlands, keeping crops watered and fertilized during dry spells. While technology and sanitation have drastically changed over the course of the past 50 centuries, water reuse and recycling remain important issues today. Last spring, Whit Wheeler, the director of Raleigh Water, approached Emily Berglund and Tarek Aziz, professors of civil and environmental engineering at NC State University, to explore potential approaches that would make Raleigh Water more resilient to drought. Now, they have partnered to identify possible solutions for the city.

Defense Against Exceptional Drought Past threats to water resources sparked this collaboration, according to Berglund. “ From 2006 to 2008, the southeast ern region of the United States faced intense droughts, ” she says. For North Carolinians, the drought reached its most extreme in the fall of 2007. August of that year was the second warmest and driest the state had ever seen, which led to more than 60% of the state receiving an “ Extreme Drought ” classification by the start of September. That October, nearly 40% of the state experienced extreme water shortages, widespread loss of crops and pastures, and a high risk of wildfires. The U.S. Drought Monitor placed these areas under the most severe “ Exceptional Drought ” classification. By December 2007, 14 water systems had less than a 100 - day supply of water in their reservoirs. The City of Raleigh ’ s solution, according to Berglund, was to increase the allocation from Falls Lake for its drinking water supply. “ It was a good solution, ” says Berglund, “ but it ’ s a Band - Aid. It has a limit. ” Current models predict a new water supply will be necessary between 2045 and 2067 — which is why Raleigh Water is already studying alternatives that include a new reservoir on the Little River in eastern Wake County and a withdrawal from the Neuse River. In addition, the research team is working with Raleigh Water on a new Community Collabora tive Research Grant project specifically to identify secondary water sources. “ If one source fails, or there ’ s a shortage, then we can rely more heavily on the other one, ” Berglund says. Reuse in Raleigh Water reuse is not new to North Carolina. The Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility (NRRRF) treats an average of 50 million gallons of wastewater per day — the equivalent of about 100 Olympic - sized swimming pools. The facility takes in wastewater from municipal sources — households, businesses, and other community establishments — and conducts “ advanced wastewater treatment. ” The primary stage of treatment filters out physical contaminants like debris, grease, and oils. Following this primary treatment the water passes through more advanced processes, during which it cycles between zones with and with out aeration, creating the right conditions for microorganisms to clean the water. These microorganisms consume organic matter and convert harmful ammonia - nitrogen to nitrogen gas, which dissipates freely from the water. After the nitrogen dissipates, the microorganisms are settled to the bottom of a tank, removing them from the treated water. Finally, in the “ tertiary ” stage, water passes through fine sand filters to further clarify it and then under ultraviolet lights for disinfection. (Cont ’ d)

The NRRRF “ treats the wastewater to a high standard, but not a drinkable standard, ” Berglund says. Water from this facility is usable for non - potable purposes — such as flushing toilets, washing cars, irrigation, and filling decorative fountains and ponds. The NRRRF provides some reclaimed water for non - potable reuse through the Raleigh Reclaimed Water Distribution System but discharges most of the water into the Neuse River. “ Indirect potable reuse ” recycles water by introducing treated wastewater to an environmental buffer, such as a river, lake, or aquifer, then withdrawing and treating water again for distribution to a consumer base. “ Indirect potable reuse can provide more assurance in the mind of the consumer that the water is clean, ” Berglund says. But what about direct potable reuse? Directly Drinkable In a “ direct potable reuse ” approach, reclaimed water would directly be treated to drinking water standards and distributed without being stored in an intermediate water body. Once cleaned to the appropriate water quality standard, the water would then reenter the potable water supply. “ On the infrastructure side, direct potable reuse can be efficient, ” says Berglund. There is no need for a separate reservoir or a buffer, and unlike non - potable reuse dual systems, “ you don ’ t need a separate pipe system to deliver non - potable water. ” Instead, direct potable reuse is conveyed using the existing drinking water pipe network. One drawback of direct potable reuse, Berglund says, is that the process can be energy intensive, especially for direct potable reuse systems that rely on “ reverse osmosis ” — an advanced process that uses high pressure to push water through a semipermeable membrane. Berglund says that a direct potable reuse system can be effective when compared with non - potable or indirect potable reuse and that reclaimed water is a good alternative for a secondary source of water. Her team is working to demonstrate how this system would work on a laboratory scale, and Berglund says it will take time and testing to find the treatment approach that will scale up for the Raleigh water supply. The Pipeline to New Policy Given the risks to public safety, water reuse regulations and policy do not allow for distribution of direct potable reuse on a large scale, yet. Although the researchers haven ’ t found a perfect solution, “ there ’ s a potential pathway for direct reuse to happen in the city of Raleigh, ” Berglund says. “ Demonstrating that this technology works and demonstrating how much it ’ s going to benefit the community and our future water supply ” is the first step for crafting plans for policy and infrastructure. “ On the east coast, we ’ re water rich, ” Berglund says, “ so direct potable water reuse is something we haven ’ t thought a

lot about or implemented. ” So, to better understand what reuse could look like outside of the lab, the researchers have turned to policies from other states. “ California, Colorado, and Texas all have potable reuse programs, so we ’ ve explored what ’ s in their regulation, ” Berglund says. To craft solutions for North Carolinians, the researchers are working to identify the most im portant and relevant components. “ Since water supply planning happens in decades, it is important that we conduct this research now, ” says Wheeler about Raleigh Water ’ s collaboration with Berglund and Aziz ’ s team. “ I am confident that NC State ’ s Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering can lead the way for North Carolina. ” There ’ s only so much water to go around, Berglund says. “ And we need new sources. ” New dams and reservoirs aren ’ t always options, and direct potable reuse can help meet the needs of the present, protect supplies in times of crisis, and preserve resources for future generations. “ Reuse builds resilience, ” she says, “ not just sustainability. ”

(retrieved from: Soetebier, L. 2025, July 9. Waste Not, Want Not, Coastwatch. Summer 2025).

Beating the Heat, the Right Way

Contributed by: Jason Tibbrine

With summer temps rising, Raleigh Water crews are staying safe and cool, just like in this photo, where one of our teams takes a quick shade - and - popsicle break during a hot day on the job.

But this isn ’ t just a break, it ’ s an example of how to stay cool on a hot day.

✅ Hydration ✅ Rest ✅ Shade

Raleigh Water crews follow the Heat Illness Mitigation from OSHA; Water, Rest, and Shade during extreme temperature days.

That also means looking out for each other and watching for the signs of heat illness while keeping the work moving.

Stay cool. Stay safe. And yes, enjoy the popsicles!

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Nerding Out Over Water Research Welcoming a special guest from the Water Research Foundation

Contributed by Phoebe Trogolo

A trip to the Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility is never boring— and last month, we welcomed a special guest from the Water Research Foundation. “ We ’ re all water nerds here, ” said Alice Fulmer, director of subscribers at the Water Research Foundation, as she took a sip of water and flipped through her slide deck. Honestly, she ’ s not wrong— the room was filled with some of

Pictured l - r: Erika Bailey, Alice Fulmer, Nathan Howell, Scott Smart

the brilliant minds behind Raleigh Water ’ s daily operations. One thing everyone had in common was a desire to learn something new and apply it to their work. Alice was there to listen, share insights, and take notes on how to collaborate with Raleigh Water to help shape the future. The visit began with an update on the latest from the Water Research Foundation, which, if you didn ’ t know, focuses on advancing the science of water to improve quality of life for all communities. Then, the group discussed how to work together and use research to provide the best water possible.

The day ended with a quick tour of the Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility— the largest wastewater treatment plant in the state—and a sneak peek at our Bioenergy Project. It was a day of shared learning for both Raleigh Water and Alice—and we couldn ’ t have asked for better weather. Thank you for stopping by, Alice!

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Raleigh Water and City Budget Office Collaboration Day Contributed by: Ryan Adkison In August, Raleigh Water hosted staff from the City ’ s Budget Office at the EM Johnson Water Treatment Plant for a day of collaboration and learning. The event provided a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, strengthen relationships, and highlight the important work that goes into providing clean, reliable water to our community. The morning began with an information session led by Mike Hughes and Chris Phelps, who walked the group through the water treatment process and explained how the plant operates. Following the discussion, participants were able to see it all in action during a guided tour of the plant, giving them a first hand look at the facilities and operations that keep Raleigh ’ s water system running smoothly.

In the afternoon, staff from Raleigh Water ’ s finance team met with the City ’ s budget staff to discuss our internal budget process for both the operating and capital budgets. This conversation helped provide insight into the financial planning and resource management that support the department ’ s mission.

The day was a resounding success, leaving both teams with a better understanding of each other ’ s work and a stronger foundation for continued collaboration. Events like these demonstrate the value of working across departments to ensure that Raleigh continues to deliver high - quality services to residents.

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Honolulu Officials Bring "Aloha Spirit" to Raleigh Water ’ s Bioenergy Campus Hawaiian Group Explores Raleigh's Innovative Dewatering Techniques

Contributed by: Kimberly Holmes - Iverson

The "Aloha spirit" arrived in Raleigh earlier this summer with a team of 16 professionals from the City and County of Honolulu. The group, including dedicated engineers, contractors, and local biosolids experts involved in the upgrade of Honolulu's Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, made a special trip to Raleigh's Bioenergy campus. Their mission? To dive deep into Raleigh's dewatering technologies! The day kicked off with a warm welcome before staff led the visitors on a tour of Raleigh's Bioenergy operations. The focus was on creating an open forum for the teams to share insights and practical experiences. The visit sparked an engaging exchange as the Honolulu team explored Raleigh Water ’ s belt filter presses and centrifuges in action. The group was interested to see firsthand how these systems work and to discuss the pros and cons of each with our knowledgeable Raleigh Water team. This deep dive into dewatering is a key step as Honolulu moves forward with ambitious plans for a new Thermal Hydrolysis Process (THP) facility. This tour was also a strategic stop for the Honolulu delegation on their way to a conference up the East Coast, underscoring their commitment to innovation. The Sand Island upgrade isn't just about improving treatment; it's about embracing resource recovery.

For now, Raleigh Water is sending a big "Aloha" and safe travels to our new friends as they continue their exciting work.

We're rooting for you, Honolulu!

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Contributed by: James Sleeper

G.O.A.T Award Winner Marcellus Wright

On June 3rd Marcellus Wright was presented with the Meters Department G.O.A.T. Award at our employee luncheon.

Marcellus has decades of knowledge and experience in public utilities. He is a super hard worker, absolutely dependable, and always volunteers when there is need for on - call staff.

Marcellus is an integral part of the Meters Department and an inspiration to our coworkers.

Employee of the Month Ivan “ Van ” Muller Ivan “ Van ” Muller was awarded Meters Department Employee of the Month for May 2025. Van has worked in the Meters Department for 18 years in a variety of groups, including Large Meters, Small Meters and, currently, the Reader Group. And he previously was at another public utility for 10 years. He ’ s dedicated, is always available to share his experience with new techs and excels at customer service. Van embodies the City of Raleigh ’ s Organizational Values and is an asset to our department.

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What to Do With Biogas? Why Not Fuel the Buses Raleigh Water upgrades solids handling with thermal hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion, reducing biosolids volume and producing RNG for city buses

By Steve Lund , Treatment Plant Operator Magazine

When Raleigh Water decided to change how it handled biosolids at its Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility, it did so in a big way. “ This is a comprehensive biosolids upgrade project, ” says Erika Bailey, P.E., assistant director. “ We ’ re using an advanced process — thermal hydrolysis pretreatment — that pre conditions the solids upstream of anaerobic digestion. It makes digestion more efficient. It does a better job of destructing the organic solids, and it produces more biogas. ” Previously, the plant in North Carolina ’ s capital used a mix of aerobic

Raleigh Water installed a membrane gas holder (WesTech Engineering) at its Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility as part of its bioenergy recovery project.

digestion, lime stabilization and composting. That required significant energy for aeration and costly trucking of the final biosolids. Now anaerobic digestion with preconditioning produces energy instead of using it, and it reduces the volume of solids. And the utility will convert the biogas into renewable natural gas to fuel the city ’ s fleet of buses. A better way The Neuse River facility (75 mgd design, 50 mgd average) is the largest of Raleigh Water ’ s three wastewater treatment plants. The Smith Creek (3 mgd) and Little Creek (2.2 mgd) plants both send their waste activated solids to Neuse River. There, the biosolids are dewatered in centrifuges (GEA) before thermal hydrolysis (Cambi) which uses pressure and heat to condition the material. The pretreatment pasteurizes the solids, breaks down the organic compounds and hydrolyzes the solids into a pourable liquid. The solids are pumped into two new 2.2 million - gallon digesters and mixed by chopper pumps (Vaughan). After 15 days, the solids are dewatered again with centrifuges and belt presses (Alfa Laval). The Class A final product is spread on city - owned land. The ability to produce Class A biosolids in just 15 days was one attraction of the process. “ This is considered an intensification technology, ” says Bailey. “ It lets us fit more capacity in the same size digester. ” The process also reduces biosolids volume, and the material dewaters better. The larger volume of biogas is stored in a membrane gas holder (WesTech Engineering) and runs through a gas treatment process (DMT International) to meet renewable natural gas standards. Developing the entire process took many years and significant research by Raleigh Water staff and consultants. Preliminary workshops and design began in 2014, and ground was broken in 2019. The thermal hydrolysis technology came online in August 2024, and the RNG connection to the gas grid is expected in spring 2025. Raleigh Water doesn ’ t sell the RNG to the utility; it pays a transportation fee to have the gas piped to the bus fueling station. Nathan Howell, operations superintendent, says the COVID pandemic slowed the project down, but the utility also invested significant time visiting other utilities that had installed processes Raleigh was considering.

(cont ’ d)

Lots of research Besides visiting plants in the Southeast U.S., a delegation went to Europe to see some thermal hydrolysis installations. “ We did a lot of our due diligence up front, and that ’ s what took so long, ” Howell says. “ We probably took 10 different trips just looking at equipment so that we were making the best decisions we could. ” The decision to produce RNG instead of using biogas to generate power and heat came after careful weighing of options. One advantage is qualifying for the U.S. EPA Renewable Fuel Standard Program. For the transportation fuel it creates, Raleigh Water will be assigned Renewable Identification Numbers, which can be sold to produce substantial income. City climate goals The bioenergy recovery project helps move the city toward the goal of its Community Climate Action Plan, which calls for reducing greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050. “ This project has pretty significant benefits by converting buses to RNG from diesel, ” says Bailey. “ It ’ s an 11% reduction in our municipal greenhouse gas footprint. ” Bailey thinks the project can be a model for other communities, including some participating with Raleigh in a Water Environment Federation task force for utilities that produce RNG. “ We are using it in our own city buses. That ’ s the model we ’ re setting, ” Bailey says. “ We have a good end user in that we have a large bus fleet that will ultimately use all of our RNG. ” The project was also driven by the desire to reduce costs and add biosolids processing capacity, according to Lisa Joseph, resource recovery manager: “ We are trying to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Raleigh has seen rapid growth, so we ’ re trying to stay ahead of that as well. ”

Pictured: Renewable Natural Gas produced at the Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility will be used to fuel GoRaleigh buses. (retrieved from: (Lund, S. 2025, June. What to Do With Biogas? Why Not Fuel the … | Treatment Plant Operator )

Bugs and Bears at the Wastewater Treatment Facility Clean Water With Help From Some Little Creatures

Contributed by: Phoebe Trogolo

It ’ s a small world after all—at least in the wastewater treatment realm. And we mean microscopic. But before we zoom in, let ’ s zoom out. To achieve the clean water that gets released back into our local lakes and rivers, it first has to go through an intricate cleaning process. While Raleigh Water employees are hard at work, they get some help from teeny - tiny... microscopic organisms.

Wait... bugs?

OK, the bugs aren ’ t spiders, caterpillars or bumblebees. These microorganisms—mainly bacteria and protozoa— which are present during the cleaning process and help break down organic matter and pollutants in the water. A wastewater treatment plant just so happens to be rich in nutrients, making it the perfect home for them. Here ’ s one way to look at it: Raleigh Water ’ s wastewater treatment plants run 24/7, every day of the year. These tiny unsatiable organisms see the plant as an all - you - can - eat buffet, and they continue to help clean the water by breaking down waste, food particles, oils and more. It ’ s all fun and games—until someone mentions bears. Yes, really! But not the cute, furry brown or black bears you ’ d find in the woods (if you see those, please run). The bears in wastewater treatment are water bears—a very fitting name. Here ’ s a picture to help you visualize … yeah, not so hairy or cuddly, but have similar claws like nails – hence the name. These creatures are known as tardigrades, more commonly known as water bears. They ’ re famous for being able to survive in all kinds of extreme environments around the world. Water bears are super small measuring about 0.04 inch. They stand out from other microbes because they don ’ t do a lot of the cleaning work themselves. Instead, their presence is the goal. What about the bears?

When water bears are found in the treatment process, it shows that there are high oxygen levels and effective breakdown of organic matter—both signs that the cleaning process is working well.

Wastewater treatment operations can be complex, and this is just one brief glimpse into the amazing microscopic world that helps keep Raleigh Water clean and safe. So the next time you turn on your tap or flush the toilet, remember: it ’ s not just technology at work—it ’ s biology too!

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