Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts Facilities Tour
Ever wonder what happens to your wastewater and trash after it leaves your home?
Come explore the journey firsthand! Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper Water) is partnering with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD) to offer schools free, immersive, behind-the-scenes tours of the Districts’ facilities. Students get to see massive machines in action, walk through real water reclamation plants, and discover how recycling, wastewater, and solid waste are managed every day. It’s eye opening, interactive, and a great way to connect classroom learning to the real world.
Who Can Participate?
Teachers and instructors are eligible if you teach grades 6th-12th at a public or private school within Upper Water’s service area.
How to Book Your Tour and Request Bus Reimbursement
- Complete and email the Tour Request Form to Katherine Vazquez at Katherine@usgvmwd.org at least three weeks before your preferred date. Include your top choice plus a backup.
- Have a parent or guardian sign the Liability Waiver and review LACSD’s Tour Safety Guidelines.
- Arrange transportation for your group. If bus costs are a concern, Upper Water offers bus stipends of up to $750 on a first-come, first-served basis.
- After your tour, e-mail an invoice and a current W-9 to juliepatino@lacsd.org Reimbursements are issued to your school or district within three weeks. LACSD does not pay transportation companies directly.
FAQs & Important Information
- How long are the tours? Most tours last 1–2 hours and involve walking. Closed‑toe, comfortable shoes are required.
- Which facilities are the most popular? The San Jose Creek Water Reclamation Plant and the Puente Hills Materials Recovery Facility, both in Whittier. At San Jose Creek, students will see how wastewater is treated into clean water used for irrigation. At Puente Hills, they explore how recycling and trash is sorted, and can walk onto a closed landfill if they are curious.
- How can students get the most of their visit? Students enjoy the tour more when they know the basics. We encourage teachers to use Follow the Flow, a standards aligned guide with background information, lesson plans, and hands on activities about wastewater, recycling, water quality, and waste management.
- What if I am outside Upper Water’s service area? If your school is located outside Upper Water’s service area, you may still be eligible for tours and bus reimbursement if your school is within the Sanitation Districts’ service area.
- Tours may be canceled or rescheduled during rainy weather.
- Tours are designed for one class (about 30 students). Grades 6th–8th should provide one adult chaperone per 10 students.
- LACSD does not have lunch areas on-site, but can suggest a nearby park.
Program Contact
Primary Contact: Julie Patino, Secretary II
JuliePatino@lacsd.org
(562) 908-4288 ext. 2300
Katherine Vazquez, Water Resources Analyst I
Katherine@usgvmwd.org
(626) 443-2297