The water environment is a precious resource, and CCCSD is in the business of protecting it. Our efforts to spread the word about preventing pollution have led to several education programs for grades K-12. Some have been developed by in-house staff, others represent cooperative efforts with nonprofit or government agencies. If you are interested in a more in-depth view of these programs, please call our Public Information Hotline at (925) 335-7702.

CCCSD is pleased to offer the following education programs to teachers and schools to help students learn about protecting our environment:

• The Central San Water Wizards (Grades 3-5)
• Sewer Science (Grades 9-12)
• The RV Brownlee Voyage of Discovery (Grade 5)
• Treatment Plant Tours (Grades 6 and over)
• Kids In Gardens (Grades K-12)

This program was designed to tie into Contra Costa County's elementary school water environment unit. Water Wizards is a partnership program designed and produced by CCCSD and taken into classrooms by The Gardens at Heather Farm. It includes various hands-on classroom activities and a take-home assignment.

This program is free to teachers in CCCSD's Sewer Service Area. For more information or to sign-up your classroom, take a look at the program brochure or call The Gardens At Heather Farm Education Office at (925) 947-6712.

The Sewer Science program is a 5 to 7 day wastewater treatment lab for high school students. Developed with the aid of a science teacher, this lab lets students make, treat, and test wastewater. All the materials required for running the lab including the necessary tanks, pumps, testing kits, and perishable materials are provided by Central San.

This program is free to teachers in the CCCSD's Sewer Service Area. For more information or to sign-up your classroom, call CCCSD's Public Information Assistant, Kit Ohlman at (925) 229-7329.

Interested in implementing Sewer Science in your agency? See what's required.

2007/08 Participating Schools
Campolindo H.S.	Mt. Diablo H.S.	San Ramon Valley H.S.
College Park H.S.	Monte Vista H.S.	Ygnacio Valley H.S.
Contra Costa Christian J.H.S.

Classroom science lessons come alive for fifth graders on the RV Robert G. Brownlee, a 90-foot-long research vessel that provides a safe and stable floating laboratory for students. The ship is owned and operated by the Marine Science Institute of Redwood City. Central San co-sponsors a three-and-a-half hour excursion on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta where students learn about the source of their drinking water and the importance of pollution prevention. This unique opportunity is available in January and February at no charge to fifth grade classes within central Contra Costa County. For more information, call Marianne Hook at (925) 688-8307.

"Following-the-Flow" Tours provide a way of educating students about the effects of water pollution and the role CCCSD plays in keeping our water environment clean. By "following the flow" through our treatment process, students see how we clean wastewater and how pollution can affect the water in the bay. Treatment plant tours can also be used to reinforce lessons learned in any of the grades 6 and up education programs we sponsor. For more information, call Kit Ohlman at (925) 229-7329.

This partnership program was developed by the Aquatic Outreach Institute and Central San and is modeled after the highly successful "Kids in Creeks" teacher workshop. "Kids in Gardens" focuses on teaching less toxic pest control techniques for home and school gardens with the goal of reducing pesticide use within the community. Two-day workshops are offered twice per year, and include curriculum and resource materials. For more information on this teachers' workshop, call the Watershead Project at (510) 665-3546.