Carnegie Science Center event takes Pittsburghers to the rivers

How does river water get turned into clean drinking water? How is the risk of overflow into rivers reduced during heavy rains?

The answers to these and other questions will be provided by the Carnegie Science Center during its H2Oh! River Weekend on July 24-25.

The annual aquatic event focuses on the science of Pittsburgh’s three rivers — the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio. It includes a “River BINGO” scavenger hunt on the North Shore and an opportunity to catch a fish on the Ohio River with the state Fish and Boat Commission. No license is required.

“A lot of people see the rivers as a scenic feature of Pittsburgh, but we want everyone to remember that we’re connected to the rivers here and we depend on the rivers in many ways that might not be obvious,” said Brad Peroney, Carnegie Science Center program development manager.

Peroney said H20h! River Weekend is designed to show people that clean drinking water is not something Pittsburghers have to worry about on a day-to-day basis.

“The process we’re using to turn river water into drinking water with chemistry reflects the processes that water treatment plants use,” said Peroney. “There are several steps that we have to go through in order to make our water drinkable. We don’t think about it every day, but a lot of people around the world do have to think about how to make their water clean.”

Tours of the Science Center’s rain garden will be given to show how green infrastructure is used to help slow the flow of rain water into sewers.

“It’s a big problem here in Pittsburgh with our combined sewage overflows. Every time it rains like the rain we had (Monday) night, it goes into the storm sewers. The storm sewers overflow and raw, untreated sewage dumps out into the rivers,” said Peroney.

Peroney said visitors can learn about things people can do on their own property or in public spaces to help with local water issues.

Educators from ALCOSAN will also be on hand to teach about the water cycle, he said.

The event is free with a general admission ticket to the Science Center. Officials say online timed ticket purchasing is strongly encouraged for all visitors — including Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh members.