HAGERSTOWN – City officials unveiled a new educational video explaining how wastewater is collected, treated and safely returned to local waterways, expanding an outreach effort already being used in area classrooms.
The video, referred to as “Wastewater 101/102,” was presented during a Hagerstown Mayor and City Council work session as a follow-up to a previously released water-system video that is now used in school instruction.
City staff members said the new video is designed to help residents better understand how wastewater moves from homes and businesses through the collection system, into the treatment plant and ultimately back into the environment. The presentation emphasized the role wastewater treatment plays in protecting public health and preserving local water resources.
Hagerstown operates a regional wastewater system that serves both city residents and surrounding areas through a joint services arrangement with Washington County. The system includes about 156 miles of sewer lines, along with pump stations and monitoring equipment that transport wastewater to the city’s treatment plant.
Officials said the treatment plant operates at a capacity of eight million gallons per day and meets Maryland’s enhanced nutrient removal standards, which limit the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus released into waterways.
The video outlines each major stage of the treatment process, including mechanical screening to remove debris, grit removal, primary and secondary clarification, biological nutrient removal using controlled oxygen levels, filtration and ultraviolet disinfection. After treatment is complete, the cleaned water is discharged into Antietam Creek.
The presentation also explained how solids removed during treatment are processed separately. Those materials are treated, dried and pelletized into fertilizer that meets strict environmental and safety standards before being reused in agriculture.
City officials credited wastewater staff members for their involvement in producing the video, noting that employees participated directly in filming and reviewing to ensure accuracy.
Council members praised the video’s clarity and educational value, saying it provides a clear, accessible explanation of a complex system that many residents rely on but rarely see. Several noted that the earlier water-system video is already being used in school classrooms and said the wastewater video is expected to serve a similar role.
