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Monday 6:30am - 3pm Tuesday 6:30am - 3pm Wednesday 6:30am - 3pm Thursday 6:30am - 3pm Friday 6:30am - 12pm

Norfolk Sewer District, 259 Greenwoods Road West, Norfolk, CT (2026)

10/21/2026

WASTEWATER WEDNESDAY: THE LAB — COMING TO A SEWER NEAR YOU
In a world…
Where millions of gallons of wastewater need a place to go…
Where microscopic organisms work tirelessly behind the scenes…
And where one questionable sample can turn an otherwise peaceful Wednesday into a full-blown scientific investigation…
ONE TEAM WILL DARE TO LOOK CLOSER.
DUN. DUN. DUUUUUUN.
That's right, folks. WE'RE BACK!
First things first, we owe you an apology for our extended absence. We know you've been waiting patiently for your weekly dose of wastewater wisdom, questionable humor, and educational content that somehow manages to make p**p sound exciting. We've been away so long that some of you assumed we got lost in the pipes or were recruited by the Men in Black to cover up what REALLY happens at a wastewater treatment plant.
We can neither confirm nor deny the theory.
But like Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator, we have returned. Okay, technically, he said, "I'll be back," but we've already covered that part. And unlike certain movie franchises, we're hoping this comeback doesn't require 17 sequels and a reboot.
Now, grab your popcorn, put on your safety glasses, and for the love of science, don't eat anything while reading this next part.
THIS WEEK ON WASTEWATER WEDNESDAY… WE ENTER THE LAB.
Cue the ominous music.
NARRATOR: "Deep inside the wastewater treatment plant, a highly specialized team is investigating a mystery that affects us all."
Cut to a close-up of a sample bottle. Dramatic zoom. Suspenseful music intensifies.
NARRATOR: "What's in the water?"
Dramatic pause.
NARRATOR: "No, seriously. What's in it? We need to run some tests."
If wastewater were CSI, the lab would be where we examine the evidence, follow the clues, and figure out what's going on. Our crime scenes are liquid, our suspects are microscopic, and when somebody yells, "We need backup!" it might just mean an instrument needs recalibrating.
If it were Jurassic Park, the lab would be where science helps us understand what's happening behind the scenes. Fortunately, our microorganisms are much smaller than dinosaurs, and our containment procedures are less likely to involve running for our lives.
And if it were Ghostbusters, we'd be tracking down the weird stuff nobody else wants to deal with. Except instead of asking, "Who you gonna call?" we're asking, "Who ran this sample, and WHERE ARE THE RESULTS?"
Because here's the thing: wastewater treatment isn't just a bunch of tanks, pipes, pumps, and people hoping for the best. There's serious science happening behind the scenes, and the lab helps us understand whether everything is doing what it's supposed to do.
We're testing samples, checking treatment performance, keeping an eye on important numbers, and making sure our microscopic workforce is pulling its weight. Because if those little organisms decide to slack off, we don't exactly have an HR department to send them a strongly worded email.
Over the next few weeks, we're going to explore the lab, explain what we test, why we test it, and how those results help keep the whole operation running smoothly. We'll break down the science in plain English, with a little humor thrown in for good measure. No chemistry degree required. No lab coat necessary.
Think Bill Nye the Science Guy meets The Big Lebowski, with less bowling and significantly more p**p. But this rug really does tie the room together, does it not?
Will there be microscopes? YES.
Will there be science? ABSOLUTELY.
Will we make all of this understandable without requiring you to enroll in college chemistry against your will? THAT'S THE PLAN.
WASTEWATER WEDNESDAY: THE LAB.
Coming soon to a Facebook feed near you.
Rated PG-13 for scientific content, questionable fluid samples, and an irresponsible number of p**p jokes. Cue the dramatic music. Roll credits.

10/15/2026

Congratulations Alex Combes!

09/30/2026

HAPPY WASTEWATER WEDNESDAY EVERYONE!!!!
This week’s Wastewater Wednesday was actually suggested by a brand-new Wastewater Wednesday fan! We love getting suggestions from our readers, and when they asked us to talk about A Bug’s Life, we thought, “Well, Flik, you may have just given us a good one!” So today, let’s talk about the bugs.
And no, we’re not talking about the kind you find crawling around your kitchen. We’re talking about the microscopic bugs that make wastewater treatment work. As we’ve said before, wastewater treatment is a biological process. Our bugs break down and remove the organics and nutrients in the sludge. We provide the food and the right environmental conditions, and they do the rest. Basically, we provide the buffet and they provide the labor.
Here’s the tricky part: we can’t see the bugs doing the work. They’re just too small. So when we want to know how things are going inside our tanks, we look under the microscope for other organisms that give us clues. These are called indicator organisms. They’re basically our microscopic reporters.
First, we find amoebas. When the sludge is young, there is plenty of food available, and they are happy campers. As the process continues, the food gets reduced and competition increases. The amoebas start to disappear. Apparently, even microscopic creatures know when the buffet is closing.
Next come the ciliates. There are lots of different kinds, but one group we really like to see is stalked ciliates. Under the microscope, they look like tiny bouquets of flowers. When we see them, it tells us that things are moving in the right direction. The available food has been reduced, the treatment process is working well, and the water is getting cleaner. Seeing lots of stalked ciliates is basically our microscopic version of getting a report card that says “GOOD JOB!”
Then we get to the metazoa. These are our microscopic old-timers. They help polish the water as the treatment process gets closer to the finish line.
One of those metazoa is the rotifer. Rotifers are mostly female, and the males don’t live very long. So, naturally, the ladies are running the show. They also serve an important purpose for us. They can be an early warning that something toxic has entered the plant. If the rotifers start disappearing, we pay attention. Very close attention. Nobody wants to upset the ladies in charge.
And then we have the tardigrades, better known as WATER BEARS! We didn’t see these little guys around here until a couple of years ago. When we find them, they tell us that our sludge is older but healthy, and that we have very low levels of ammonia.
And these little guys are TOUGH. They can survive some incredibly harsh conditions, including periods without oxygen and extremely dry conditions. NASA has even taken them to space! Meanwhile, some of us complain when the office gets a little chilly. These guys get launched into space and basically say, “Is that all you’ve got?”
So, after we look through the microscope, what do we do with all of this information?
We count the bugs. But not the Hoppers, they can gather their own food.
We look at what organisms are there and which ones are present in the greatest numbers. That gives us clues about the age of our sludge, how well the treatment process is working, and how much oxygen we need to provide.
So, just like in A Bug’s Life, everybody has a part to play. Some show up early, some come along later, some tell us when things are going well, and some let us know when something might be wrong. And apparently, some get to go to space.
Not a bad life for something you need a microscope to see!
So, thank you to our newest Wastewater Wednesday fan for giving us the idea for this one! And thank YOU for taking time out of your busy day to read it. We are going to start our tour of the lab next week.
Until then…
Remember… it’s tough to be a bug.

09/24/2026

Hello, Wastewater Wednesday peeps! This week, we're tackling a subject that has absolutely nothing to do with wastewater: MANNERS.
Please. Thank you. You're welcome. Excuse me.
Apparently, we've reached a point where these four phrases need to be put back into circulation.
So… “I'm on a mission to civilize.” And frankly, Bing Crosby had it right in White Christmas: “We got a big job, buster. A big job.”
And he's not wrong.
Let somebody merge. Hold the door. Say thank you. Don't scream at the cashier because your coupon expired during the Obama administration.
We're all in this together, people.
You don't have to agree with everybody. You don't even have to like everybody. But you can still be civil.
This isn't complicated. It's not rocket surgery. It's just being decent.
Someone holds the door? Thank you. Someone lets you merge? Thank you. Someone says thank you? You're welcome.
See? We're cooking with gas now.
And if somebody cuts you off in traffic, maybe don't immediately turn into Michael Douglas in Falling Down. Take a breath. Let it go.
You have no idea what's happening in their world. Maybe they're late. Maybe they're lost. Maybe they're just a silly goose.
“That's just, like, your opinion, man.”
Fair enough, Dude.
Either way, it's probably not worth going back to prison over.
Because kindness costs nothing. Manners cost nothing. Respect costs nothing.
And if you're wondering whether any of this applies to wastewater…
Absolutely not.
We just wanted an excuse to quote The Newsroom.
And yes, we haven't forgotten about the lab. We'll get back to that soon and actually talk about wastewater again.
But today is Thursday.
Which means technically this isn't Wastewater Wednesday.
It's Wastewater Wednesday: The Thursday Edition.
We'd like to say we're sorry, but…
we're on a mission to civilize, not a mission to stay on schedule.
Happy Wastewater Wednesday!
On Thursday.
Now go out there, say please, say thank you, hold the door…
and for crying out loud…
don't be a jerk.

09/16/2026

Hello, Wastewater Wednesday peeps!
Today’s post is a little different. There’s no movie reference, no questionable wastewater joke, and surprisingly, no discussion of what happens when you flush something you probably shouldn’t.
Today, we want to recognize someone who has spent the last 25 years making sure Norfolk’s wastewater system keeps doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.
Tomorrow, September 17, marks 25 years for our Superintendent, Bill Hester, at the Norfolk Sewer District!
Bill grew up right here in Norfolk and actually worked at the plant as a kid. On September 17, 2001, he officially joined the Sewer District under Superintendent John Zucco. Since then, he has continued to learn, grow, and take on just about anything that has come his way.
His certifications tell part of the story: Class 1 Wastewater Operator Certification in 2002, Class 2 in 2005, Class 3 in 2017, and Class 4 in 2022. In 2018, Bill received the Wastewater Operator Excellence Award from the Atlantic States Rural Water and Wastewater Association, recognizing his dedication and professionalism in the wastewater field.
But a quarter century at the Sewer District is about a lot more than operating a treatment plant. Bill has been involved in some pretty major undertakings around Norfolk.
He oversaw two major water main replacement projects. You might wonder what that has to do with the Sewer District. Quite a bit, actually. Our sewer mains and laterals share the roadbed with the water system, so Bill was there to help protect our infrastructure and minimize damage to our system while that work was being done.
Then there was the $4.2 million relining project. Our entire 9.5-mile collection system was relined, and new manholes were added where needed. Let’s just say our poor old pipes were more than ready for some attention.
And who could forget the “Great Wall of Norfolk”? When work was being done on Route 44, all of our sewer pipes had to be moved to the opposite side of the road — while the system remained in service. Because apparently moving nearly 125 years of sewer infrastructure while keeping everything flowing is just another day at the office.
Bill was also involved during the major gas spill in the center of town, making sure our collection system did not become contaminated with potentially harmful substances.
After Bill became Superintendent, an assistant was hired, Brian Hutchins, and the two of them got to work cleaning things up and moving the Sewer District forward. Together, the District implemented confined-space procedures, developed numerous SOPs, created a FOG (Fats, Oils and Grease) program, upgraded and added laboratory testing equipment, and made the plant a safer place to work by ensuring the right equipment was available.
With Bill’s assistance, the Sewer District secured $4.2 million in grants and loans through USDA Rural Development for the major infrastructure project. Over the years, the District has also updated the sludge pumps, added, with the help of ARPA funding, the first generator powerful enough to run the entire building and all of its equipment, added a camera system for inspecting our collection pipes, purchased a new Jetter to clean main lines and help customers with blockages, and replaced an early-2000s pickup truck with a brand-new utility truck ready to handle whatever comes our way.
And somehow, through all of that, Bill still manages to keep the plant running.
Twenty-five years is a remarkable milestone. From a kid who grew up in Norfolk and worked at the plant to the Superintendent overseeing one of the oldest sewer systems in Connecticut, Bill has quite literally spent a lifetime around Norfolk wastewater.
And his service to the community doesn’t stop at the Sewer District. Bill currently serves on the Wi******er Board of Selectmen and is an active exterior member of the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department.
Today is about the guy who has spent 25 years making sure all that stuff keeps working.
Congratulations, Bill, on 25 years!
Twenty-five years of early mornings, late nights, big projects, old pipes, new equipment, paperwork, regulations, emergencies, and more than a few things that probably should never have been flushed.
You’ve helped take the Norfolk Sewer District from where it was to where it is today, and you’ve left your mark not just on the plant, but underneath the streets and throughout the community.
So, here’s to Bill Hester — 25 years down, and hopefully plenty more years of keeping Norfolk’s pipes flowing.

09/09/2026

It’s time for WASTEWATER WEDNESDAY!!!!!
STOP! WHO WOULD CROSS THE CHLORINE CHAMBER MUST ANSWER ME THESE QUESTIONS THREE! WHAT… is your name? WHAT… is your quest? WHAT… is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? Wait… What do you mean, “What kind of swallow?” African or European? Never mind. WE HAVE WASTEWATER TO TREAT.
After weeks of following wastewater through the Norfolk Sewer District, our brave little stream of wastewater has finally reached the FINAL STEP of the treatment process. It has been a long and perilous journey. We have battled solids, fed the bugs, survived the clarifiers, crossed the sand filter, and somehow avoided the dreaded Knights Who Say Ni! And now… THE CHLORINE CHAMBER. Cue the dramatic music. Or someone clacking two coconuts together.
After being treated again in the sand filter bed, the water heads underground to another open-air tank where it is disinfected. There are several ways to disinfect wastewater, but here at the Norfolk Sewer District, we still use CHLORINE GAS. And this is where our fearless wastewater faces its most dangerous enemy yet: BACTERIA. Not a flesh-eating rabbit. Not a three-headed knight. Not even a heavily armed Frenchman shouting insults from a castle. BACTERIA.
Wastewater can contain some pretty nasty microorganisms, including Typhoid, Cholera, Dysentery, Polio, Hepatitis, E. coli, and plenty of other things we would prefer NOT to invite to the Blackberry River. Basically, this is the point where the bacteria says, “I’m not dead yet!” and the chlorine says, “Well, you’re about to be.” Okay… maybe we shouldn't put that on the official Sewer District page.
The water spends about an hour in the Chlorine Chamber, giving the chlorine plenty of contact time to do its job. But the quest is not over. Chlorine is fantastic at killing harmful microorganisms, but unfortunately, the fish aren't particularly interested in swimming through a chlorinated swimming pool. So, we need one final weapon: THE HOLY HAND GR***DE OF ANTIOCH! …No. Wait. That's not it. It's just… SODIUM BISULFITE. A small amount is added to neutralize the remaining chlorine. And just like that, the mighty chlorine has been defeated. Well… mostly. Actually, let's not get cocky.
Which brings us to THE OUTFALL PIPE. Beyond it lies… THE BLACKBERRY RIVER. “Let’s not go there.” “Why not?” “Because it’s a silly place.” Fine. We'll go somewhere else. Except we can't. That's where the pipe goes. So onward we go!
But standing between our brave wastewater and freedom… THE BLACK KNIGHT. “None shall pass!” Fortunately, our wastewater has come prepared. The Black Knight refuses to move. Our wastewater keeps going. The Black Knight loses an arm. Our wastewater keeps going. Another arm. Still going. Both legs. Still going. At this point, the Black Knight is basically a torso with an attitude. And our wastewater? OFF TO THE BLACKBERRY.
We have reached the end of the quest. We have defeated the microorganisms, neutralized the chlorine, survived the Black Knight, and finally… WE HAVE FOUND THE HOLY GRAIL.
Okay. Technically, it’s treated wastewater. But after everything we’ve put this poor water through, we’re calling it a Grail.
And just like that… THE QUEST IS COMPLETE.
But WASTEWATER WEDNESDAY isn’t over! Next week we’re leaving the treatment process behind and heading somewhere we’ve only mentioned in passing… THE LAB! That’s right. We’re going UNDER THE MICROSCOPE. Because after all these weeks of following wastewater through the plant, it’s time to see what the heck is actually living in it.
Hopefully nothing with a sword.
Have a great day everyone, and stay safe!

09/02/2026

🚨 WASTEWATER WEDNESDAY IS BACK! 🚨
Well… we took a couple of Wednesdays off. That was a mistake. While we were gone, we lost some absolute legends: Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Peter Cullen. Yes… THE VOICE OF OPTIMUS PRIME.
So, since we're still trying to get Wastewater Wednesday back on track, today we're going to do something a little different. No lesson. No diagrams. No talking about what happens after you flush. Just a little appreciation for three incredibly talented people who gave us music, movies, characters, and memories that aren't going anywhere.
For me, the favorites are pretty easy… well, except for Tim Curry. Dolly Parton — “9 to 5.” Tim Curry — Clue AND The Hunt for Red October. Peter Cullen — Optimus Prime.
Tim Curry was the tough one. Clue is an all-time favorite, but then there's The Hunt for Red October, Rocky Horror, IT, Legend, Muppet Treasure Island… How the heck are you supposed to pick one? So, I'm not. And yes, we're going with one ping only.
Meanwhile, Peter Cullen gave Optimus Prime a voice that could make a children's cartoon character sound like he was about to lead humanity into battle. And Dolly Parton somehow managed to make working 9 to 5 sound like something worth singing about.
Here at the Sewer District, we're just trying to convince our bugs to eat p**p. Different kind of heroes.
So, let's hear from you: What's YOUR favorite Dolly Parton song or performance? What's your favorite Tim Curry role? And what's your favorite Peter Cullen character? We're expecting some good answers.
And if somebody says their favorite Tim Curry performance is Muppets Treasure Island you get a sticker.
Welcome back to Wastewater Wednesday. We missed you. And apparently, we've got some catching up to do.

08/20/2026

Hello Wastewater Wednesday Fan Club. Yes, I know it’s Thursday.
Between the fire on Wi******er Road and some much needed tank cleaning at the Plant it was a very busy day.
I want to publicly Thank Brian Hutchins for being the creator and writer for Wastewater Wednesday. He puts a lot of thought and passion into getting it done weekly. I have to say the one he did with MASH was my favorite. The hope is to inform and educate everyone on the internal workings of how a Wastewater Plant and collection system functions. If you didn’t already know, he’s pulling double duty as Norfolk’s Fire Chief. With the new building construction and the on going work he does for the Plant, he’s on a much deserved R&R. He’ll be back to his shenanigans next week.

William E. Hester
(Colonel Potter)
Plant Superintendent

08/12/2026

Happy Wastewater Wednesday EVERYBODY!!!!
We hope everyone is having a great day! We are almost to the end of our Wastewater Wednesday Road Trip! Just one more stop after this one, so hang on tight. Apparently this trip has turned into a three-hour tour. Hopefully ours doesn't end with us stranded on an island.
This week, we have LANDED ON THE SAND FILTER BEDS! And wouldn't you know it… there are SEVEN of them. Seven! Which means we have officially discovered the Gilligan's Island of wastewater. We have seven beds just like seven castaways, except our residents don't have names like Gilligan, the Skipper, the Professor, Mary Ann, Ginger, Mr. Howell and Mrs. Howell. Ours are mostly known by names like “Bed 1,” “Bed 2,” and “Don't Put Anything In That One, We're Working On It.”
One of our seven beds is used only for sludge from the digester or a tank. Four are used during the warmer months while we are chlorinating, and two are used only during the winter. We rotate them out for maintenance as needed because apparently even a sand filter bed eventually says, “I need a vacation.”
Norfolk Sewer District has used some form of sand filter beds since DAY NUMBER ONE. The technology has changed over the years, but the basic idea remains the same. Water from the clarifier flows through pipes into one of the beds, which are made up of layers of sand and gravel. The water slowly perks down through those layers while phosphorus, solids and other impurities are removed. Basically, the water gets stranded on an island and somehow comes out 90–99% clean. That's what we call tertiary treatment.
Underneath all that sand is a network of piping that collects the cleaned-up water and sends it to our next stop: the Chlorine Contact Chamber! So unlike the original Gilligan's Island, we actually have a pretty good idea where we're going next.
Of course, being stranded on an island means you have to get creative. On Gilligan's Island, they somehow made radios out of coconuts. If the Norfolk Sewer District crew were stranded on an island, we'd probably try that too. It would not work. We'd spend three days trying to figure out which end of the coconut was the antenna, somebody would accidentally drink the battery, and eventually we'd just yell at a passing boat. So we're pretty happy to have actual pipes, equipment and electricity.
Now here's the really important part. Once all the water has worked its way through the sand, everything that was removed from the water is left behind on the beds. And what do those solids do? Absolutely nothing. They sit there, soak up the sun, enjoy the view and basically live the dream while the rest of us are still working.
Eventually their vacation comes to an end. Once everything is nice and dry, we bring out the tractor, scoop everything up, and it gets composted according to our permit.
So there you have it! Seven sand filter beds, seven wastewater castaways, one very questionable island, and a whole lot of sand doing some very important work. The good news is that our crew actually knows how to get off the island. The bad news is that somebody still has to drive the tractor.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is another stop on the Wastewater Wednesday Road Trip!
Take it easy, everybody!
And if you happen to find that lost shaker of salt, please return it to the Sand Filter Beds. They've been stranded since 1897 and we're starting to think they might need it.

Norfolk Sewer District

10/21/2026

10/15/2026

09/30/2026

09/24/2026

09/16/2026

09/09/2026

09/02/2026

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08/12/2026

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Monday	6:30am - 3pm
Tuesday	6:30am - 3pm
Wednesday	6:30am - 3pm
Thursday	6:30am - 3pm
Friday	6:30am - 12pm