For Schools

The Regional Water Quality Control Plant and Watershed Protection group offers free classroom programs and field trips for schools within our service area: East Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Stanford. Our goal is to educate the next generation about pollution prevention in watersheds and promote stewardship of the environment.

Free Classroom Programs

We visit over 70 classrooms annually with hands-on lessons that meet California’s Next Generation Science Standards.

For Elementary Schools: We are piloting a partnership with the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. We offer two hands-on lessons for 5th grade classrooms. Students model stormwater pollution in Water Pollution. In the follow-up lesson, Water Filtration, they learn about wastewater treatment as they filter the polluted water they created in the first lesson.

For Middle Schools: We are re-launching this program in School Year 2025-26 through a partnership with Marine Science Institute. It consists of a microscope lab, called Microbes in Sewage, for 7th grade classrooms. Students observe, draw and identify microorganisms in wastewater sludge pulled from their local wastewater treatment plant. They learn about stormwater versus wastewater and how they can prevent pollution to the San Francisco Bay.

Free Field Trips

For Elementary Schools: We offer a Watershed Protection field trip to the Baylands Nature Preserve for 4th grade classrooms through a partnership with the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. Due to limited availability, you must apply to a lottery to receive a field trip.

Baylands Field Trip Overview

A memorable experience in the San Francisco Bay's largest undisturbed tract of marshland

Through hands-on activities, students learn about watersheds, how stormwater runoff and the wastewater treatment process affects the Bay’s health, and how they can prevent pollution in our waterways.

Field trip is for 4th grade students and accommodates two classrooms per field trip.
Field trip is 3 hours long from 9 a.m. to noon
The activities were developed by the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo and meet California’s Next Generation Science Standards.
Location is the Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center in Palo Alto.
Free bus transportation available for schools that qualify.

What activities do the students do?

After an introduction and a snacktime, the students split into small groups and rotate through the following four stations.

Understanding Watersheds

Students walk out on the boardwalk to the water's edge. From this vantage point and using binoculars, students can see the mountains that create the Bay's watershed. With a paper watershed model, they spray water to see how rain flows into the valleys.

paper model of a watershed with ink bleeding due to sprayed water

Pollute the Watershed

The teacher guides students through polluting a model of a suburban watershed. They take turns sprinkling different materials and colored sugar that represent pollution such as pesticides, soil, car oil and more. Then students spray water on it and watch the discolored and polluted water flow into the creeks and Bay.

Enviroscape model

Water Testing

Students run water quality tests similar to those performed at the wastewater treatment plant, such as nitrates, phosphates, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity. They test water from the marsh and treated wastewater for comparison.

vials of colored water for testing with hands in view

Walk to the Outfall Pipe

Students watch a short video about the wastewater treatment plant, which is located in the Baylands. It shows how sewage is treated there. Then students walk to see the outfall pipe where treated wastewater is released into the Bay. They discuss how they can prevent water pollution.

students walking down a trail in Baylands

How the Lottery Works

We have 18 field trips available.
Priority will be given to schools with at least 60% of its population designated as socioeconomically disadvantaged. If transportation is a barrier to participation, we have a limited number of free charter buses (dependent on availability). Please indicate on the application if bus transportation is a need.
All applicants will be notified about the lottery outcome by email within two weeks of application. For those that receive a field trip, it will include information on how to schedule their field trip.
We still have trips left! Our application deadline has passed but please apply anyway.

Apply for a Baylands Field Trip

For Middle and High Schools: We offer field trips to the Regional Water Quality Control Plant in Palo Alto.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Field Trip Details

Bring your class or club on a field trip to the Regional Water Quality Control Plant! On this walking tour, students will see how operators, scientists, and engineers work together to clean 20 million gallons of wastewater daily before it’s released to San Francisco Bay. They will also learn how they can prevent pollution to the Bay through everyday choices they make. Tours are offered on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with an appointment. Students must be 6th grade or higher. Homeschool or other educational groups are welcome.

Review the Plant Tour Guidelines below prior to requesting a tour.

Guardians of students younger than 18 years old must sign a liability waiver to participate. Teachers or schools are responsible for gathering the signed waivers. Adult tour attendees are also required to sign waivers.

Liability Waiver for Regional Water Quality Control Plant(PDF, 186KB)

Questions? Please call (650) 329-2598 or email CleanBay@PaloAlto.gov

Schedule a free tour

Plant Tour Guidelines for Schools

The following information is a general overview to help you prepare for your tour. Please share these guidelines with all parents and chaperones taking the tour.

Tours are open to 6th grade students and higher.
We can accommodate 20 people per group. Groups larger than 20 will require a second tour guide. Please discuss with us when scheduling.
The tour involves more than an hour of walking and climbing up and down stairs. Participants must be physically capable of this exertion, but please reach out to discuss if accommodations may be possible. We also have a video of the Plant’s treatment process available on our website.
Guardians of students younger than 18 years old must sign a liability waiver to participate. Teachers or schools are responsible for gathering the signed waivers. Adult tour attendees are also required to sign waivers.

Liability Waiver for Regional Water Quality Control Plant Tour(PDF, 186KB)

Tour attendees are required to wear closed-toe shoes that are comfortable for walking. No sandals, high heels, or open-toed shoes permitted.
Tour attendees will be provided with hard hats and other necessary safety equipment.
Due to construction at the Plant, all areas may not be available during tour.
The Plant reserves the right to cancel tours. If a tour is canceled, we will notify you at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled tour unless it is due to an emergency.

Behavioral Expectations

Students who do not follow the rules below will be escorted back to the main building with a teacher or chaperone to wait until the tour is over.

Running and horseplay are not allowed.
Sticks and things on the ground must not be picked up, kicked, or thrown.
No climbing on, hanging over, or touching the railings.
Stay out of the barricaded and construction areas.
No food, drink, candy, or gum allowed on tour.
We encourage students to ask questions. However, they should refrain from talking while the tour guide is talking.
Tour attendees must always remain with tour guides.
If there is an emergency during the tour, participants should follow the directions of the tour guides.
Tour attendees should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer at the end of the tour.

Teacher and Chaperone Responsibilities

Share these guidelines with adults on tour and review behavioral expectations with students prior to tour.
Bring a list of each student, teacher, and chaperone attending the tour.
Bring pre-signed liability waivers for all attendees. You may also email them to the person who helped you schedule the tour.
Upon arrival at Plant, enter the administration building and wait in lobby. Your tour guide will meet you there.
Report the total number of students, teachers and chaperones to your tour guide.
Take head counts of your group (1) at the beginning of the tour, (2) during the tour, and (3) final head count at end of tour. Notify your tour guide of head count at end of tour to be sure all students and adults are accounted for.
Supervise students and help the tour guide by managing your students’ behavior to ensure they follow rules.

Arrival and Parking

Arrive 15 minutes prior to the start time to get checked in.
Let the guard in the guard booth know that you are there for the tour.
Park anywhere in the parking lot that is not designated for a specific vehicle, or you may park in the lot at 2470-2478 Embarcadero Way (across the street from entrance). Overflow parking is also available at 1900 Embarcadero which is a 3-5 minute walk from the treatment plant.
Keep a lookout for construction vehicles while driving or walking in the parking lot. They may not be able to see you.
Meet at the Admin Building to check in.

Additional Resources for Educators

Learn more about the Plant and its wastewater treatment process in this video.

Downloadable Curriculum

Beyond our classroom programs, we offer downloadable lessons on watershed protection and related science topics. Lessons align with Next Generation Science Standards and are available in English and Spanish. They can be completed by students on their own time or led by a teacher.

Access the free lessons

Posters for teachers

person viewing a poster Are you teaching your students about watersheds, sewer versus storm drains, or pollution prevention? Download these free graphics and resources for your classroom.