LIST: We found a can of soup at @neorsd HQ dated 2006. It's older than these 13 things.

Campbell's Chunky firehouse chili, oh how much you've missed.

A colleague found this expired can of soup dated 2006 tucked in the back of our community kitchen at @neorsd headquarters. What has this forgotten spicy beef and bean chili missed in the last 11+ years?

1. Two terms of President Barack Obama
2. Our 25-year Project Clean Lake green light and long-term savings
3. LeBron leaving Cleveland...
4. ...and returning...
5. ...and bringing home an NBA Championship. 
6. The launch of Twitter (2006)
7. The creation, suspension, and relaunch of our Regional Stormwater Management Program
8. The appointment of Ciaccia as our CEO...
9. ...and his retirement...
10. and the confirmation of his successor Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells.  
11. The digging of a 3-mile-long tunnel 200 feet underground
12. A memorable Cleveland Indians World Series run
13. The construction and operation of a LEED-certified Renewable Energy Facility at our Southerly Wastewater Treatment Center

The list could go on. And will go on, as we don't plan to open the can anytime soon.

BUZZ: Where poo and pop culture collide, we are there. Watch Jessica take @BuzzFeed's poo quiz.

As your trusted authority for all things poo and pop culture, we considered it an obligation.

When BuzzFeed posted a "How poo obsessed are you?" quiz, we wondered—based on our areas of expertise—exactly how we'd fare in the final tally. We believed it would be irresponsible of us not to take it.

So we interviewed our own Community Relations Specialist Jessica Shutty, asking her to take the quiz (with no advanced knowledge of the questions). Her honesty and humor are unmatched in our social media archives, so enjoy the exchange.



In a related note, you can request a guest speaker on poo, wastewater, sustainability, stormwater, and a host of many other topics, whether humorous or professional or both.

EVENT: You really gotta go. To our Open House and #neorsdTOUR this Saturday.

Wally Waterdrop and friends are ready to show what it takes to keep our Great Lake great.

It’s the question that has confounded children for generations: “Where does it go when I flush the potty?”

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District proudly answers one of life’s most important questions this Saturday, September 17, at the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant in Cuyahoga Heights.

This annual event offers opportunities for guests of all ages to tour the largest wastewater treatment in the State of Ohio, visit an award-winning laboratory, walk through a virtual sewer, learn about stormwater management, conduct experiments with “Zach the Mad Scientist” and experience first-hand the heavy machinery and vehicles required to maintain 350 miles of interceptor sewers.

#LoveCleanWater: Our printable valentines are the very least you can do.

Flowers fade away, candy loses flavor, and stuffed animals quickly become closet clutter. When you care enough to give someone the very best, share your love of clean, safe, reliable water.

Our latest downloadable edition of wastewater valentines aren't just for water professionals. They are perfect for kids, friends, family members, and anyone who appreciates the true value of clean water.

Formatted on a simple printable sheet, you can print copies for kids activities or around your home or office. If you show your love, share with us and let others know you #LoveCleanWater, too.

LIST: 5 ways the end of another Browns season is like treating wastewater

The Cleveland Browns' stadium has 85 restrooms, and we have treated their wastewater every year since their return in 1999. It gives is a unique perspective on the team's foundation, and we found five parallels between the end of another season and the work it takes to clean very dirty water.


The last thing you see is messy.
This season was the fourth straight in which the Cleveland Browns played its final game starting a third-string quarterback. And it ended messy. In water terms, once the water has been used at your homes—for washing, bathing, or flushing—it's dirty, and you want to get rid of it. Flush it, forget it, and move on. You can trust us to take it from there.

Despite the temptation, there are things you shouldn't flush.
The recurring desire to flush your tickets, quarterback jerseys, or dreams for championships may be strong, but don't do it. There are things on our "Do not flush" list for a reason. Stay strong and make the right decisions.

Improvement is a process.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam was quick to say after Sunday's game that there would be change, and there is no such thing as a quick fix. Changing sewage into clean water is no quick-fix either. But one good thing about our process is it takes about 24 hours, considerably less than a search for a GM and head coach.

Is your money going down the drain?
Long-time Cleveland sports fans regularly scratch their heads in despair, asking "What are we getting for our investment?" We know customers may ask the same thing when they pay their sewer bills, which is why we offer our social media accounts, annual Open House, Infrastructure Week, and more to help answer those questions. Your sewer bill is money down the drain in a way, but it's an investment in a system that ensures a Great Lake, something you can believe in well beyond football season.

The cycle continues. 
The water cycle, much like the Cleveland coaching cycle, goes on and on and on and on and on. We have faith in a Browns turnaround. If a river can catch fire 13 times and come back from that, maybe "next year" will be here sooner than we think.

Photo by Erik Drost – Creative Commons License

LeBRON: In response to Steph Curry's toilet, our open letter to LeBron James

Dear LeBron James:

You will always be number 1 to Cleveland. Which is why your number 2 is so important to us.

Your contributions to the game of basketball, Cleveland, Ohio and the entire sports world are well documented and your acclaim is well deserved.

We are sure you are aware of Golden State Warrior Steph Curry recently acknowledged his game performance has improved since getting a new toilet, and from a sanitary and health perspective, we can understand how such a a change can affect one's performance.

But we believe true and lasting greatness goes much further than a toilet. This is not about Steph Curry's toilet. It's about Cleveland basketball's run for the throne.

You are a man who understands the value of community, of family, of pride, and we hold those same values dear as a public utility. Which is why we take any steps necessary — all. steps. necessary. — to ensure you have the best throne experience and the cleanest water any king could have. We pride ourselves on it.

We already offer award-winning and nationally renown wastewater treatment service and customer education, and we understand properly treating the flow of water coming from Cleveland only furthers your drive towards a championship. We stand (well, sitting may be more appropriate in this case) behind you.

LeBron, I assure you the service we offer Northeast Ohio meets the highest water-quality and sanitation standards in order to ensure optimum game-time performance well into June. Which is why you have no need to concern yourself with your toilet. We'll take care of that, while you keep your sights set on the real throne.

Go Cavs, and go LeBron.

Julius Ciaccia
Chief Executive Officer
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

JUST IN: Wally reinstated as official spokesdrop, Austin returns to back-up role

"Wally has shown he's ready for this. We're ready to move on and get back to work."

That was the official statement from the Sewer District this morning as their official spokesdrop Wally Waterdrop was reinstated as starting spokesdrop for the foreseeable future.

"Austin did what he could this past weekend. He showed guts," said CEO Julius Ciaccia Monday of Austin Waterdrop's promotion to the starting outreach line-up in the midst of the waterdrop controversy. "But Wally is our starter and we are excited to see him back in the starting role."

Wally was benched last week when photos surfaced showing him in the middle of what appeared to be a party, but it was unclear whether it was an outreach event and what year the photos were taken.

"I'm not looking back, I'm looking ahead," Wally said.

LIST: 9 ways the movie Elf pretty much sums up any water lesson we could ever teach

The life lessons offered in Will Ferrell's Elf are profound and unparalleled. In this holiday season, we invite you to reflect on nine specific clean-water insights only Buddy can convey.
 

A short shower is just as effective as a long one.
 

Everyone needs some alone time. Let your throne be a place of emotional comfort.
 

Singing a song while you're in the shower can help you conserve water by timing your routine. Singing while someone else is in the shower is creepy.

NEWS: Back-up spokesdrop Austin named starter, Wally benched after party photos surface

NEORSD spokesdrop Wally Waterdrop at an event with fans.

Backup Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District spokesdrop Austin Waterdrop has been named starting spokesdrop for an "indefinite period of time" after photos of official spokesdrop Wally Waterdrop surfaced this week.

"Austin has been a great member of our team," said an anonymous NEORSD colleague. "We want to see how he does carrying our message of clean water and we're comfortable that he gives us the greatest chance to convey trust and reach customers."

Very excited about the new opportunities @neorsd has given me. I support @WallyWaterdrop & look forward to carrying our message to our fans!

— Austin Waterdrop (@AustinWaterdrop) December 2, 2015

When asked about the photos, Wally said he "did not remember" the photograph, but admitted that he "enjoys interacting with fans" at community events "regularly" throughout the year. Since the revelations, some have questioned the date of the photographs and if they could be from "some time ago," but that hasn't stopped the Sewer District from taking action.

"I've talked to Wally," our source said, "and he said he understands the situation. All we can do now is move on. The decision is made and we're excited to move forward."

NEORSD expects Wally to retain his Official Spokesdrop title but did not offer a specific timeframe for his return.

HOLIDAYS: The GIF that keeps on giving. Join our #h2oGIFexchange all season long.

December is upon us and we're in a GIF-giving mood.

Share your best water- or sanitation-related GIFs with us and we'll post them here to see and share all holiday-season long. Tag us on Twitter with @neorsd or #h2oGIFexchange and share the clean-water meme love.

What better way to show someone you care. About clean water.

Meet Ryan and Christen, wastewater plant operators extraordinaire.

The mouth of a sea lamprey. You're welcome.

Prospector dance.

#h2olloween LIST: 7 comic-book characters' alter egos, and the water careers they could have had

Heroes of comic books and movies make for great costumes for all ages. But are they also indicators of career options?

Captain America: The Winter Soldier filmed in Cleveland in 2013, and before the release, we spent time examining whether famous characters' alter egos' skill sets made them viable candidates for careers in the water industry. Here were a few ideas, and the list is certainly far from all-inclusive.

CAREERS: neorsd.org/careers
COMICS: Information from Masked Heroes

TRENDING: Never forget, it was a toilet that made time travel possible. #BackToTheFutureDay

Back To The Future's Doc Brown and his illustration of the time-travel-enabling flux capacitor.

The future has arrived. As the past. In the present. Thanks to a toilet.

October 21, 2015 has been declared Back To The Future Day, a day of '80s sci-fi nostalgia, the date to which Back To The Future's Marty McFly travels in the second movie of the trilogy in hopes of rescuing his future family.

What made the films' time travel possible was the flux capacitor. What made the flux capacitor possible? Remember, it was inventor Doc Brown slipping and falling off his toilet:

Sure, the flush toilet was considered the greatest medical advancement of the last 200 years. But in the BTTF universe, it became—more importantly—the greatest inspiration of the entire space-time continuum.

Heavy. We know.

RELATED STORIES

• TECH: Bath to the future? Toilet tech predictions for the year 2030 
• MOVIES: Lake Erie Sharknado? Unlikely. Raining sea lampreys? Plausible.
• MEDIA: WMMS host Alan Cox wants to attend our Sewer University?

NEWS: CLEvsPIT rivalry, @neorsd faced @alcosanWWTP and clean water was the winner

Open House attendance increase tops 228% over last year as two sewer districts compete in Open House visitors, social media

Mark the Mad Scientist amazed guests at Saturday's record-setting Open House.

With the help of our 1,725 guests last Saturday, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District flushed Pittsburgh! Attendance at the 8th Annual Open House was 228 percent higher than last year's, sweeping the 5.12 percent attendance boost by Alcosan (the regional sewer district in Pittsburgh).

A friendly contest was held between the two agencies to determine which event, both held on the same day, would draw higher attendance numbers. The results came in Tuesday, and both utilities had numbers to be proud of.

• Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
• 2014: 525 attendees
• 2015: 1,725 attendees
• Percentage increase: 228% (Greatest increase)
• Alcosan
• 2014: 1,915 attendees
• 2015: 2,013 attendees (Highest attendance)
• Percentage increase: 5.12%

RIVALRY: Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland? Clean water is the business, but this could get dirty 9/19. #neorsdTOUR

We're taking the Cleveland/Pittsburgh rivalry off the field and into the water.

The Sewer District's Open House is Saturday, September 19, the same day Pittsburgh's Allegheny County Sanitary Authority ALCOSAN hosts their annual event. The two agencies will go head-to-head in a battle of attendance and social media.

RSVP: Join us at our September 19 Open House, and register early for a chance to win a prize pack!

Both @neorsd and @alcosanWWTP hope to draw well over a thousand guests each, but bragging rights will go to the winner with

• Highest overall attendance
• Greatest increase over 2014's event attendance
• Most event mentions on social media September 19

"Treating wastewater is our business," said Jeannie Chapman, @neorsd Manager of Community & Media Relations, "but there's sure to be a little trash talking come Saturday."

We encourage our social media followers on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to mention our accounts or #neorsdTOUR to support your Cleveland wastewater treatment authority. And if you throw in any Pittsburgh jokes, be creative, at least try to keep them like our treated water: Clean.

VIDEO: How to make your own lava lamp

Turn a few simple household products into this great kids craft, Sunday afternoon project, or science-class demo.



Leslie tells us how density and reactions help make these ingredients move like the lava lamps of the 1970s.

RELATED STORIES:

• EVENTS: See this experiment and more at our 9/19 Open House

GAME: The only #GOPdebate drinking (water) game you need

The best way to drink responsibly is to drink water, and lots of it.

So while Rolling Stone Magazine and many others have gotten attention for their #GOPdebate "drinking games" in advance of Cleveland's event tonight, we recommend the following: A drinking water game about water.

• When a candidate mentions Cleveland? Water.
• "Infrastructure" reference? Water.
• When you see a candidate sip from a water glass? Water.
• "Lake Erie" or a Great Lakes reference? Water.

Print your own sheet, turn on that kitchen tap, and stay hydrated while you play along. (And with the RNC coming to town next year, you might as well print extra copies.)

RELATED NEWS:

• #GOPdebate: 3 ways water could make a cameo appearance at the first Republican debate
• INFRASTRUCTURE: President Obama talks about infrastructure priorities at The City Club
• CONSTRUCTION: Public Square renovation, including stormwater management features, on schedule for completion before 2016 RNC

TRENDS: No, #Sharknado3 would not affect Great Lakes, but raining sea lampreys would be a thing of nightmares

Despite a sketchy 1954 report of a bull-shark attack on Lake Michigan, fears of a Great Lakes Sharknado is nothing to keep you up at night.

But could any Great Lakes monster rain from the sky in a so-bad-it's-good made-for-SyFy-channel movie? Our investigators named one.

"I would say the sea lamprey," said Supervisor of Environmental Assessment Seth Hothem.

LIST: 5 reasons mayflies are nothing like giant mutated man-eating ants

When meteorologist Mark Johnson posted a radar image yesterday of a cloud of mayflies swarming over Lake Erie, it was almost intimidating, like something you'd see in a B-movie trailer foretelling a fight scene between mutated bugs and a clan of outmatched but gutsy Clevelanders.

One move that came to mind is 1977's Empire of the Ants (what do you mean you've never seen it?!) But before you stock up on bunker supplies and take cover, there is really no reason to fear mayflies.

Here are five reasons a swarm of mayflies are so nothing like the ants of 1977 B-movie fame.

CAVS: Cuyahoga River fire? Top 3 #BlameDelly Cleveland environmental disasters

Even before game three of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, Cleveland Cavalier Matthew Dellavedova had earned a reputation as a "dirty player." Cavs fans in disagreement have spawned #BlameDelly memes and social-media commentary in recent days.

We suspect the cold-hearted Delly can also be implicated a number of Cleveland's environmental challenges.

1969 Cuyahoga River fire

• True cause: Pollution on the surface of the river was set ablaze by a spark from a passing train.
• #BlameDelly version: Matthew Dellavedova dove for a loose ball and caused the igniting spark when his stone heart scraped a rock on the bank.

Lake Erie toxic algae bloom

• True cause: Higher levels of phosphorus washing into the lake from surface runoff.
• #BlameDelly version: Matthew Dellavedova has polluted Lake Erie intentionally because his thirst can only be quenched by water as dark as his soul.

Combined sewer overflow pollution

• True cause: Century-old combined sewers under Cleveland were not designed to handle the increasing volume of surface runoff, leading to pollution overflowing into Lake Erie following heavy storms. Improvements have been made and more are underway.
• #BlameDelly version: Matthew Dellavedova is a dirty player and his filth seeps into the earth of every surface he touches.

As the Cavs continue their run towards a ring, we'll continue our run towards a greater Lake Erie. Go Cavs.

WATCH: Maryland man plows snow riding motorized toilet, via @AP

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

RELATED STORIES:

• LIST: 5 of our favorite toilet bowl myths and legends
• HISTORY: Thank you, Seth Wheeler, for inventing perforated toilet paper
• LOOK: China has a waterfall made of toilet bowls. Because of course it does.
• TECH: Bath to the Future? Tomorrow's bathrooms could feature smart fixtures