This summer, seven high school students completed paid internships at wastewater treatment plants in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts through the Youth and the Environment Program (YEP). Created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1990, YEP allows youth to gain hands-on experience in the environmental field through a six-week schedule that includes working alongside professionals, educational lessons and field trips.
The participants represented the communities of Andover, Billerica, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell and North Andover. Most of the students did not have an initial interest in the environmental field but joined the program to gain professional skills.
Aaliyah Ventura, who is a student at North Andover High School, took advantage of this work experience to develop her interviewing skills. Throughout the summer, she met with the lab staff at the treatment plant to ask them about their role in wastewater management.
Another participant, Natalia Santiago Garcia, decided to enroll in YEP after previously taking a memorable environmental science course at Lawrence High School which left her curious about the wastewater industry.
“I always wondered what happened to water after it went down the drain,” said Garcia. “It was cool to see how it happens.”
Isaiah Viega, who attends Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, began with previous wastewater knowledge due to close family friends who work in the field. During the program, he learned more about the essential work that occurs at treatment plants.
The students began each morning by working alongside professionals at a wastewater treatment plant. Four were stationed at the Greater Lawrence Sanitary District in North Andover, Massachusetts, while the others worked at the Lowell Regional Wastewater Utility. At the plants, they participated in various tasks involved in maintaining a wastewater treatment facility and learned from staff across several departments including operators, lab technicians, engineers and electricians.
The programs were led by two graduates from the University of Texas at El Paso: Rebecca Navarette, who received a master’s in geologic science, and Daphne Short, who received a bachelor’s in environmental science. This was Short’s second year serving as a YEP coordinator.
“It is such a pleasure to participate in such an impactful program,” said Short. “I love seeing the joy on the students’ faces when they learn something interesting, and it is equally fun for me to learn more about this industry.”
In addition to assisting the youth at the treatment plants, the coordinators curated and presented lessons for them in the afternoons. These ranged in topic from climate change and renewable energy to financial literacy and resume building.
“The highlight for me was watching my students become curious about environmental topics and find their interests,” said Navarette. “Their enthusiasm for learning was truly inspiring.”
The students’ schedules also included weekly field trips to local environmental organizations, including the Seacoast Science Center (SSC) in Rye, New Hampshire. Here, NEIWPCC Information Officer Brian Yurasits, who also works as a community outreach manager at SSC, took the youth kayaking along an estuarine route at Odiorne State Park. The majority had never kayaked before.
“I could tell some of them were nervous at first, but by the time we got back, they were much more comfortable in the water,” said Yurasits. “Within two hours, they were paddling circles around me.”
While on the water, the students had the opportunity to view local wildlife like great egrets, belted kingfishers and red-tailed hawks. Back on land, Yurasits discussed how the filtration process happening at wastewater treatment plants upstream has a direct impact on the estuary and creatures calling it home. The group also visited the museum, where they learned more about the natural history of the area and how climate change is affecting the Gulf of Maine.
Other field trips included the Quabbin Reservoir, where the students learned about the process of creating a drinking water supply for the Boston area, and a visit to the Merrimack River, where a staff member from the United States Geological Survey demonstrated how to sample water and take measurements to determine the quality.
The YEP experience wrapped up at the Lowell Regional Wastewater Utility, where the students shared their summer learning experience with members of the EPA.
“My favorite part of the program was helping people at the water treatment plant,” said Javian Therriault, a rising senior at Billerica Memorial High School. “I enjoyed learning more and seeing what they do in this unknown, very important part of the community that plays a huge role on the health of the river.”
The students also led a tour of the wastewater treatment plant which showcased knowledge gained throughout the program. The youths’ work was celebrated in a graduation ceremony, where a certificate was awarded to each participant for their efforts.
“They have all gained valuable environmental awareness,” said Navarette. “The students will be the first to warn others about what not to flush down the drain for years to come.”
