Ep 17. Brown Before Green

In the season 4 episode 17 of Dirty Jobs, titled Brown Before Green, host Mike Rowe explores the world of wastewater treatment. The episode takes place in two different locations - the first being San Francisco, where Mike visits one of the world's largest sewage treatment plants, and the second being Memphis, where he visits a smaller facility that uses biological treatment methods.

The episode begins with Mike arriving at the San Francisco treatment plant, where he meets with plant manager Roger Davis. Davis explains that the plant processes an average of 80 million gallons of raw sewage per day, and Mike is shocked to learn that the plant is able to remove up to 98% of pollutants from the wastewater before it is discharged into the ocean. To give Mike an idea of the scale of the operation, Davis takes him on a tour of the facility, where they see the various stages of the treatment process. Mike is shown the initial screens that remove any large objects like trash or debris, and is even given the opportunity to operate the grinders that break down the solids. He is then taken to the settling tanks, where the remaining solids are allowed to settle to the bottom of the tank, while the treated water is sent on to the next stage of the process. Mike is fascinated by the ingenuity of the process, and he marvels at the different tools and techniques used by the plant's staff to keep the operation running smoothly.

After leaving San Francisco, Mike travels to Memphis to visit a smaller treatment plant that uses a biological treatment process to clean wastewater. Mike meets with plant manager Mark Qualls, who walks him through the process of using aerobic bacteria to break down pollutants in the raw sewage. Mike is taken on a tour of the facility, where he is shown the different stages of the process, including the aerated tanks where the bacteria do their work, as well as the settling tanks where the solids are separated from the water. Mike is surprised to learn that the biological treatment process is both less expensive and less energy-intensive than the chemical treatment process used in larger plants like the one in San Francisco.

Throughout the episode, Mike is struck by the dedication and hard work of the people who work in the wastewater treatment industry. He acknowledges the unpleasant nature of the work they do, but also recognizes the importance of their contribution to public health and safety. As usual, Mike gets his hands dirty and pitches in wherever he can, whether it's operating the grinders at the San Francisco plant or helping to clean out the aeration tanks in Memphis.

Overall, Brown Before Green is a fascinating exploration of a crucial but often overlooked part of our infrastructure. Mike Rowe's trademark humor and down-to-earth approach make this episode an engaging and educational look at a world that most of us would rather not think about.