PROFILES: Pete and Todd's Sewer Simulator showcases the sights, sounds of a subterranean system

Todd Andexler, left, and Pete Lehman, creative minds behind @neorsd's Sewer Simulator.

When you can't take guests underground, bring the underground above ground. That's exactly what Todd and Pete did.

If you attended the District’s Open House this year or last, you may have walked through our Sewer Simulator. Field Tech Operators Pete Lehman and Todd Andexler are the Sewer System Maintenance & Operations masterminds behind this unique attraction.

The duo transformed a rusty storage container into an educational display, complete with running water and props that simulate a sewer environment.

Todd said that the inspiration for the Simulator came two years ago from a virtual sewer exhibit by Pittsburgh’s wastewater agency ALCOSAN. When asked about the biggest challenge, he replied, “Building the pump system to run a continuous cycle of water. We had to build it in a way that the pipes wouldn’t overflow or run dry.” Pete proudly chimed in, “We got it right on the first try.”

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.

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.

CAREERS: Military Employment dialogue to be featured among #neorsdTOUR Open House events 9/19

Among the many exhibits, tours, and presentations slated for our September 19 Open House, a special conversation about Military Employment will be featured twice throughout the day to highlight career opportunities for veterans.

"Veterans bring a really unique skill set and an extraordinary commitment to serving the community," said Human Resources Manager David Feinerman, "to serving the American way of life; and that's what we do at the Sewer District, as well."

Join our Open House September 19 and stop by our Inside Stage and 9:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. to learn more. With more than 600 employees and 200 different job titles, we may have opportunities to help you put your skills to work.

The Sewer District has been recognized this year among Northeast Ohio's Top Workplaces and recently earned a spot in NorthCoast99's Best Places to Work for the first time in its history.

EVENT: You really gotta go. To the #neorsdTOUR Open House September 19

If urine need of a fun, free, family-friendly event, then you’ve really gotta go. To the Sewer District’s annual Open House.

On September 19, the Sewer District will open its doors to the public to answer the question, "Where Does It Go?" Be there.

At the Open House, guests will have opportunities to tour the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Center—the largest treatment plant of its kind in the State of Ohio—and conduct experiments with Mark the Mad Scientist in the laboratory. Explore the soon-to-debut Sewer Simulator, and sit behind the wheels of our work trucks.

WATCH: Christen and Ryan's two-minute tour shows you what happens after the flush

How do you take 280 acres of tanks, towers, and tunnels, and a process that takes more than 24 hours from start to finish, and trim it down to less than three minutes?

Christen and Ryan give it a try.

Ryan Melton and Christen Wood are operators at our Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant in Cuyahoga Heights, and they wanted to give folks an intro to the work it takes to turn sewage into clean, safe lake water.

Pay attention. They move quick, but by the end, they give viewers three key steps in the wastewater treatment process.

EVENT: We'll treat the water, you tweet the pics. #neorsdTOUR will include a photo contest

If you are joining us this Saturday, make sure your phone is charged and get your Tweeting thumbs ready.

Our Open House this Saturday, September 27 from 9 to 2 starting at our Environmental & Maintenance Services Center will feature a photo contest and you can join the fun using the #neorsdTOUR hashtag.

RELATED: 5 things to remember if you're headed to our Open House September 27

Share your best photos on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook and tag them with #neorsdTOUR for a chance to win two T-shirts and a #neorsdTOUR prize pack.

#neorsdTOUR: Share your best pics and your feedback from the tour for chances to win

If you are joining us this Saturday, make sure your phone is charged and you grab a comment card while you're there.

We're excited to announce two contests for this year's Open House Saturday, September 28 from 9 to 2 at the Westerly Wastewater Treatment Center:

Share your best photos on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook and tag them with #neorsdTOUR for a chance to win one of three T-shirts and a #neorsdTOUR prize pack. Also, be sure to complete a comment card so we can improve these events in the future. We'll randomly choose one winner from those comments next week to receive a Kindle Fire.

OPEN HOUSE: 7 memes show why your kids would love to tour a wastewater plant (#neorsdTOUR)

Spend a Saturday visiting a wastewater treatment plant? Any number of memes might capture your initial reaction to that opportunity, but here's why considering that September 27 is not as crazy as you think.

1. WOW factor.

Many kids and adults don't think about what happens to the water that flows down the drain. That water gets cleaned and released to the lake, the same source of our drinking water. At our tour, you'll be able to see the processes at work to clean your wastewater safely.

2. Fishing v2.0

We collect and study fish in local streams to be monitor water quality. But our electrofishing boats don't use rods and reels. They use electricity to stun the fish so we can net and study them before releasing them safely. We'll show you how it works.

#neorsdTOUR: Open House updates and news

Headed to our Open House Saturday? We're excited about it, and hope you are, too. Earlier this week we sent an email to attendees who registered online, and also posted the same news on our Facebook event page, just to provide an update. Here's the latest.

OPEN HOUSE 9/8: Are you excited? Sewer we.

In celebration of our 40th anniversary, we invite you to attend the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's 5th annual “Where Does It Go?” Open House on Saturday, September 8. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m at the Westerly Wastewater Treatment Plant near Edgewater State Park in Cleveland.

[RSVP online today!]

TOP 10: Reasons a sewage treatment plant open house is worth a Saturday visit

You might think there is an endless list of places you'd rather be than a Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District open house like the one we're having Saturday, September 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

But here are at least 10 reasons why an up-close look at the clean-water process could be worth your time.

EVENT: Hundreds enjoy weather, water at Open House

More than 300 guests spent a Saturday finding an answer to the question "Where does it go?" The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's Open House August 13 welcomed customers and residents to its maintenance facility and Southerly Wastewater Treatment Center in Cuyahoga Heights to learn about the treatment process and how the District's work protects our environment. View photos on Facebook | View photos on Photobucket

EVENT: Full house expected at Saturday's Open House

With more than 360 registered to attend our Open House August 13, the Sewer District has closed registration three days early and is anticipating one of its largest crowds ever.

For fourth straight year, District opens doors for Open House

“Where Does It Go?” On August 13, citizens of Northeast Ohio can get the answer to this popular—yet seldom asked—question. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is once again opening its doors to the general public at the NEORSD “Where Does It Go?” Open House on Saturday, August 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

"Mommy, where does it go when you flush the potty?"

Parents, kids, friends, our Open House August 13 will have something for everyone. This :30 spot will be running on local radio stations starting this weekend. Space is limited, so RSVP today.