Paradise Inn Annex, Part 6
The rehabilitation of the Paradise Inn Annex is a high-profile example of the work to restore the historic Paradise area. However, there is still more to do. A multi-year project to improve the Paradise trail system is underway in conjunction with meadow restoration work. A future project will be the rehabilitation of the Paradise waste water treatment plant and sewer system. With millions of visitors using the facilities in the area, it is essential this system continues to work!
Tucked away below the visitor facilities, the sewage treatment plant for Paradise is a nondescript building with a maze of pumps, tanks, and pipes. There is even a small laboratory to test the water and the affluent. The park has a dedicated staff of professionals who make sure that the water that enters the plant is properly treated and clean before it is released back into the park. The Paradise plant (along with other waste water treatment plants in the park) separate and process over five million linear fleet of toilet paper a year! It is a complex system that takes a great deal of time, energy, and resources to keep running properly. The waste water plant is just a small portion of the millions of dollars of infrastructure that the park maintains.
NPS Photo. Description: A square pool of water with swirls of bubbles on top, surrounded by pipes and concrete walkways.Β
NPS Photo. Description: A knot of pipes and cables connect to a tall stack of machinery in a narrow concrete room.Β