Grade 5 students brought months of classroom learning to a recent visit to the South Orange County Wastewater Authority’s JB Latham Treatment Plant in Dana Point, where they observed firsthand how wastewater is transformed into clean, reusable water.

The field trip marked the conclusion of the grade 5 Home Water Project, an in-depth study of water conservation, sanitation and environmental stewardship. Throughout the past several months, students explored the science behind water systems, learning about filtration, chemistry and the engineering processes that make modern sanitation possible. At the treatment facility, those lessons moved from classroom to real-world experience.

Wearing hardhats and safety glasses, students toured the plant and followed the complex journey of wastewater from the moment it enters the facility to the final stages of treatment and discharge. Along the way, they saw the highly technical engineering systems and carefully controlled chemical processes required to clean and reuse millions of gallons of water each day.

The experience provided a tangible example of how science, technology and environmental responsibility intersect in the community.

“I feel this trip is an eye-opening experience for our grade 5 students,” said David Beshk, Lower School science teacher. “Most people don’t give a second thought to where the wastewater goes. Our students gain a better appreciation for the gift of sanitation and the importance of being good stewards of fresh water.”

Mr. Beshk noted that opportunities like this strengthen students’ understanding of real-world problem-solving and reinforce the importance of conservation efforts, particularly in California, where water resources must be carefully managed.