Sarasota County Public Utilities is opening the gates at the Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility this Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the free H2-Oh! Expo. The facility at 5550 Lorraine Road was recently expanded and converted to Advanced Water Treatment standards, and the county describes it as Florida’s largest membrane bioreactor facility. Staff-led tours are available for visitors ages 5 and older, giving residents a rare look at how wastewater is treated and how the county is expanding capacity as the population grows.
Beyond the tours, the expo is built for families: touch-a-truck, lawn games, interactive booths, an educational passport to fill out, giveaways, food trucks and free Kona Ice. If you’re planning to tour, closed-toe shoes are required, and they’re recommended for the outdoor activities too. Parking is free, the site has ADA-compliant access, and while registration is encouraged, it isn’t required.
Utilities director Brooke Bailey says the goal is a fun-filled day that also teaches the community about its essential resource, water, and that educating the next generation is how tomorrow’s water systems get built. It’s an easy, low-cost Saturday outing with a little substance behind it. Will we see you on Lorraine Road? Let us know in the comments.
