The picturesque Fox River is a familiar part of Aurora with its walking paths, wildlife areas, and looming presence along major roadways. But have you ever thought about what goes on behind the scenes to keep the river (and ultimately our city) running? The Aurora Public Library District’s upcoming program ‘Behind the Scenes: Water Treatment on the Fox River’ will answer that question by diving into the management of our city’s wastewater, along with detailing some of the sustainability efforts being done to create a cleaner Aurora.
The program will be presented by Fox Metro Water Reclamation District, the public utility that serves Aurora and our surrounding area. Every day Fox Metro’s facility cleans millions of gallons of water, safely returning it to the river upon completion. “Going about our day-to-day life, we don’t often think about what happens to our wastewater, nor do we stop to appreciate all the hard work that goes into treating and managing it,” says Librarian Chris. “This program is an opportunity to appreciate the work undertaken by Fox Metro and to think more about how our water usage affects our community and environment.”
In addition to the treatment of the Fox River water, Fox Metro will highlight its commitment to sustainability by teaching us about its biosolids program. Biosolids are the natural, nutrient-rich byproduct that’s left over from the water treatment process. This leftover material is collected and given a new purpose in farmlands across Kendall, LaSalle and DeKalb counties. Think of it as Fox Metro’s version of turning lemons into lemonade, or in this case… fertilizer. “Attendees will gain a renewed appreciation for human innovation and a better understanding of this vital service to our community,” adds Chris. “It will also give people hope for a sustainable and innovative future.”
This conversation about sustainability and our local environment is just one part of a larger one happening at APLD. This event is part of ‘Aurora on the Fox’, an ongoing program series centered around the Fox River. The series considers environmental issues, uses the Fox as artistic inspiration, gathers for recreational activities, and ultimately unites us in the Fox Valley area regardless of our interests. We’ve learned about local environmentalists, made crafts with river rocks, taught customers how to fish, collected litter on the river’s shore near the Santori Library, and more! Over 600 people have participated so far, and we thank you for making this series a success.
Ready to discover another side of the Fox River? Behind the Scenes: Water Treatment on the Fox River is on Friday, October 23 at the Santori Library at 2 p.m. For additional details, please visit www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/event/17192085 or contact the library at 630-264-4117.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.