Thousands of fairgoers got a whiff of edutainment at the Minnesota State Fair's "Oh poop!" exhibit, a returning crowd-puller designed to enlighten the public on the journey water takes from homes to being safe for aquatic inhabitants. According to the Metropolitan Council, attendees at the interactive stand took turns identifying odors, took a wastewater quiz, and even snapped selfies with a not-so-real pile of poop.
While sanitizing their hands after touching the exhibit's fabricated feces, visitors learned that their home's dirty water undertakes a transformative journey through Metropolitan Council Environmental Services' nine water resource recovery facilities. These stations collectively clean about 250 million gallons of wastewater daily, serving roughly 2.9 million people in the seven-county metro region.
The educational display didn't shy away from the pragmatic, offering insights into water-related careers and hammering home the '3 Ps' of what should go down the toilet: "poop, pee, and toilet paper," expressly not including so-called "flushable" wipes. The exhibit aimed at delivering a simple, yet vital message – the significance of proper sanitation and the environmental ramifications of our everyday bathroom habits.
Reflecting on the success of the exhibit, the Metropolitan Council remarked, "Next time you flush, say 'thank you!'" suggesting a moment of gratitude for the largely invisible process that maintains the cleanliness of our vital waterways. The exhibit, a unique blend of education and entertainment, proved an inventive method to raise awareness about wastewater treatment's role in preserving our environment.
