Water, Wastewater, and Public Works Open Houses May 21-23

The City of Kalamazoo’s Public Services Department will open its doors to the public with open houses on May 21 – 23 during Public Services Week. Facilities will be open for a behind-the-scenes look at the work of the Public Services department, with facility tours, vehicle and equipment displays, and discussions on water, wastewater, and public works.   

• Tuesday, May 21 - All Things Water at Central Pumping Station and Public Service Offices 
  On Tuesday, May 21, community members are invited to the Central Water Pumping Station at 215 W Stockbridge Ave. Staff will lead a tour of the facility and talk about how water is supplied and treated for the nearly 200,000 people and 11 jurisdictions that depend on it. Guests can learn about the different steps as water moves from deep underground to the taps in our homes and businesses. Tours will start every 30 minutes during the event.  
   
  Also on Tuesday, May 21, the nearby Public Services offices at 415 Stockbridge Ave will be open to the public with additional displays and information about the water system and environmental protection. Heavy Public Services trucks and equipment will be on display in the parking lot.  

• Wednesday, May 22 – All Things Wastewater at the Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant 
  On Wednesday, May 22, community members are invited to visit the Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant (KWRP) at 1415 N Harrison St. Staff will provide a presentation about wastewater treatment before leading tours around the plant. Plant tours will start every 30 minutes. Guests will learn about and be able to see the different steps that take the used water from homes and businesses, remove all of the contaminants, and safely return it to the environment as clean water. The tour will also visit the recently completed $13+ million tertiary treatment facility at the KWRP. Tertiary treatment is one of the final steps of the process, removing the final impurities before the water is released. 

• Thursday, May 23 – All Things Public Works at Stockbridge Public Services Offices 
  On Thursday, May 23, the Public Services offices at 415 E Stockbridge Avenue will be open to the public, with staff sharing information and demonstrations on Public Works topics like streets, traffic signals, sidewalks, forestry, and recycling. Heavy Public Services trucks and equipment will be on display in the parking lot.   
   

All activities start at 5:30 p.m. and end at 7:30 p.m. Signage and balloons will guide guests to events at each location. Food and refreshments will be provided.  

“For all the streets, sidewalks, trees, and other infrastructure you see above ground, there’s even more below the surface” explained Public Services Director James Baker. “We have dedicated professionals that are operating, monitoring, and maintaining our infrastructure and utility systems 24/7, and this is a great opportunity to learn a little more about how these systems work and ask any questions you have.” 

These events are being held in May, which includes observances of Public Works Week, Drinking Water Week, and Public Service Recognition Week. These observances recognize the contributions of employees and their critical role in building and maintaining the infrastructure that sustainable and resilient communities rely on. In Kalamazoo, this work is done by the professionals in its Public Services department, which is responsible for producing and delivering water, treating wastewater, managing stormwater, maintaining streets, and administering recycling and waste programs, among a huge number of other responsibilities.     

“Our team is excited to share our work and help people understand these systems a little better. I encourage everyone to join us to learn about the critical infrastructure that we all depend on.”