Fairfax County’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) Wastewater Management (WWM) Program not only treats millions of gallons of wastewater each day — it also inspires the next generation of environmental stewards. Building on its successful middle and high school lab programs, WWM has expanded to reach elementary students with hands-on activities, experiments, and videos that teach the importance of protecting our shared water resources.

Across the country, clean water utilities are navigating aging infrastructure, regulatory compliance pressures, and growing expectations from ratepayers for reliable, cost-effective service. Few face these challenges at the scale of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD), which manages over 850,000 horizontal assets spanning wastewater and stormwater systems.