On November 28^th, 2000 are ChE 101 class visited the Glendale Water Treatment Plant in Sparks. While there we were taken on a tour of the plant. On this tour we were able to not only see, but also have the steps explained to us that go into treating the water. We learned a lot about the techniques involved during the purification process of water. We were able to see just how Chemical Engineering is used there. It turns out that I found this to be the most interesting and beneficial part of the trip. Another part of the trip that I enjoyed was visiting the pilot plant. The pilot plant is where engineers perform research, and test new techniques to purify the water. Here they try to develop more economic and better methods of doing what is already being done. This testing is done on a smaller scale of the plant. I found it amazing how the replica was built to scale, not only in the distances between certain processes but everything else as well. As it turned out the man giving us the tour built the replica. While there we also visited the lab where they perform tests on samples of water from various locations. I enjoyed the experience of being able to visit the lab while the chemists that worked there were performing actual tests. We were also taken to the control room and I learned that computers controlled all of the different sub processes. I thought that the visit to the Glendale Water Treatment Facility was a good experience because I was able to get a taste of some possible careers as a Chemical Engineer. Most of all though was able to see Chemical Engineering in real life. Plus I found it interesting to see the process that goes into taking water out of its natural source and putting it into our faucets.

Justin St. Germain

Chem E 101