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Public Utilities - Tours

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1. Why visit the Drinking Water Treatment Plant?

Many people take for granted the simple act of turning on a faucet and getting a cold glass of water. Discover how the drinking water supply is treated before being piped to 40,000 Athens-Clarke County homes and business. Visitors of our tours learn about the coagulation, flocculation, filtration, and sterilization processes our drinking water must go through before distribution. Visitors see chemistry in action when they tour the drinking water and wastewater testing lab. The tour encourages an appreciation for our precious resource and inspires the adoption of conservation measures to protect our waters.

2. Why visit the Water Reclamation Facility?

The Cedar Creek Water Reclamation Facility is a fascinating example of how far we have come in the treatment of sewage. New technology incorporating biological and UV treatments allow us to "reclaim" the water from the waste before returning it safely to the environment. Visitors are surprised to discover carbon scrubbers on site that clean the foul odors traditionally associated with sewage. Opportunities to see microorganisms at work are numerous as the "bugs" consume the organic materials in aerobic and anoxic basins. Come see how this new technology has enhanced the field of wastewater treatment.

3. How can I schedule a tour?

We have several ways to schedule a tour. 1) Visit the Tours page online. 2) Email a request to savewater@accgov.com. 3) Contact the Water Conservation Office at 706-613-3729. We will respond to your request within five business days.

Learn more about tours

4. When can I come for a tour?

Tours are available March through November. The tour is outside, so tours are not recommended December through February. Tours can be scheduled Monday through Friday, but we recommend large school groups plan to visit Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Weekend tours depend upon the availability of a tour leader.

5. How long will a tour last?

Small groups should plan for the tour of the Drinking Water Treatment Plant or Water Reclamation Facility to last about an hour.
Large school groups visiting the Drinking Water Treatment Plant should plan for two hours. In addition to a tour of the Drinking Water Treatment Plant, large school groups will receive an educational program.
Large school groups visiting the Water Reclamation Facility should plan for about an hour and a half. Additional educational programs are currently unavailable for the Water Reclamation Facility tours.

6. What ages are the tours appropriate for?

Safety and content of the tours were taken into consideration for these age recommendations. The Drinking Water Treatment Plant is recommended for children aged eight (3rd grade) and up. Tours of the Water Reclamation Facility are recommended for those aged ten (4th grade) and up.
Tours to the Drinking Water Treatment Plant are recommended for 3rd grade school groups. Programs focus on water conservation and correlate with Georgia Performance Third Grade Standards.
Tours to the Water Reclamation Facility are recommended for 4th or 5th grade school groups. Tours include discussion of decomposers and microorganisms at work and correlate with Georgia Performance Standards for fourth and fifth grades.

7. How many people can I bring with a group?

To ensure that a safe and educational experience is had by all, we must limit the group size visiting our facilities. Both the Drinking Water Treatment Plant and Water Reclamation Facility can comfortably accommodate up to 60 at one time.
Large groups will be divided at the start of your visit. Those visiting the Drinking Water Treatment Plant will be divided into four groups and those at the Water Reclamation Facility will be divided into three groups. If you are bringing a group of more than 20, please arrive prepared to divide your group.

8. Do I need to bring chaperones with my school group?

We suggest at least one chaperone for every 10 students. However, there is no limit to the number of chaperones you may bring. Chaperones are expected to stay with their groups at all times, keep groups together and engaged, ensure safety, and maintain discipline. Both locations are working facilities and can be hazardous, therefore, it is important students are closely supervised during the tour.

9. What if it rains the day of my trip?

Tours at the Drinking Water Treatment Plant and Water Reclamation Facility are conducted outside. In the event of rain, a field trip must be rescheduled. The Water Conservation Office will contact your group as soon as possible in the event of cancellation.

10. What should I wear for the visit?

Tours to both locations are primarily outdoors and involve a good bit of walking. Please dress comfortably and appropriately for the weather. No heels or open-toed shoes are to be worn on the tours. The tours require walking across grated areas and heels or toes can easily catch in the grates and cause injury.

11. Can we eat lunch at the facility?

Neither the Drinking Water Treatment Plant nor Water Reclamation Facility is equipped to handle large groups for lunch. However, both facilities are only a short drive to Athens-Clarke County parks offering picnic areas. Memorial Park is a good choice for those visiting the Drinking Water Treatment Plant. Please contact 706-613-3580 to reserve a pavilion. For those who tour the Water Reclamation Facility, Southeast Clarke Park's World of Wonder Playground offers a conveniently located pavilion for groups to eat. Please contact 706-613-3871. Both parks request at least two weeks advance notice if you plan to bring a large group for lunch.

Click for links to Athens-Clarke County Parks

12. Can my group receive an educational program along with a tour?

Programs are currently available on-site for the Drinking Water Treatment Plant only. Large school groups visiting the Drinking Water Treatment Plant automatically receive a program along with the tour. Please visit our program menu to see our program choices or ask us to recommend one appropriate for your group. If you have a particular topic of interest, please indicate so when requesting a tour.

Program Menu

13. Is there assistance for transportation costs associated with ACC school buses?

Through funding raised by Athens-Clarke County Green School Programs, assistance is available for transportation costs to our sites for Athens-Clarke County schools. The financial assistance applies to costs associated with a bus driver's hours and mileage from the bus depot to school, school to our site, site to your school, and school to bus depot. We cannot assist with costs incurred for additional mileage or bus driver hours if the school group visits other locations (e.g. visit a park for lunch). Please contact the Water Conservation Office for more details. A copy of the transportation invoice received by the individual Athens-Clarke County School should be sent to the ACC Water Conservation Office, 124 E. Hancock Ave, Athens, GA 30601 to receive assistance following the field trip.

Athens-Clarke County Green School Programs

14. Is there a fee for taking a tour?

No! Visits to both the Drinking Water Treatment Plant and Water Reclamation Facility are free.

15. What if I am running late or need to cancel my scheduled tour?

If you are running late for your scheduled tour to the Drinking Water Treatment Plant, please call 706-613-3481.
If you are running late for your scheduled tour to the Water Reclamation Facility, please call 706-613-3488.
If you need to cancel your tour, please call the Water Conservation office at 706-613-3729.

16. Are restrooms available at the tour sites?

The Drinking Water Treatment Plant has a large restroom area. School groups taking a tour and receiving a program will have a restroom break halfway through the visit. The Water Reclamation Facility has one small restroom.

17. Smile! Can we take your picture?

We often take photos to document field trips to our facilities. If teachers do not want their students photographed, please let your group leader know.

18. Where is the JG Beacham Drinking Water Treatment Plant located?

The Bob Snipes Water Resources Center and JG Beacham Drinking Water Treatment Plant are located at 780 Barber Street, Athens, GA 30601. Tour groups meet in the Water Resource Building.
Parking is available in the parking lot of the Water Resources Center. Buses may drop school groups off in the parking lot and park along the street.

19. Where is the Cedar Creek Water Reclamation Facility located?

The Cedar Creek Water Reclamation Facility is located at 4100 Barnett Shoals Road, Athens, GA 30605. Upon entering the gate, continue a mile down the road until passing another fence. Turn left and park in front of the building with a parking lot or along the grass if parking is unavailable. Buses should park along the grass.