Harbel, Liberia (May 29, 2023) Students from the Environmental Science and Engineering Departments of Stella Maris Polytechnic University paid a field visit to Firestone Liberia. Led by their course instructor Mr. John Korfeh Thomas, the trip gave students insight into Firestone Liberia’s operations as well as a practical understanding of how the company manages wastewater from its factory.
Commissioned in April 2021, Firestone’s state-of-the-art water treatment plant uses an efficient and sustainable treatment method to process wastewater in an environmentally friendly way. The plant uses the wastewater’s bacteria to break down and remove harmful materials within the water. After the water is cleaned, it is safe for plants, animals, and is reused during the factory’s production process.
Students were split into two groups and taken through the facility and shown how the plant operates. Mr. Thur Siakeh, the Senior Superintendent of the wastewater treatment plant, explained both the importance and the advantages of their treatment process to the students. “The new plant is far more efficient and sustainable than the old one because of the ability to reuse treated water in the factory. This reduces the amount of water removed from the environment daily to operate the factory.”
The excursion concluded with a short trip to the wetlands, a facility designed and constructed by Mr. Tokpah Yeanga, the Manager of Operations Excellence and Sustainability at Firestone Liberia. While here, students witnessed the secondary treatment process the water undergoes before being returned to nature. Every day the treatment plant releases about thirty-five swimming pools worth of clean water back into nearby creeks.
On behalf of Stella Maris Polytechnic University, course instructor Mr. John Korfeh Thomas, expressed his appreciation to the Firestone team for the experience and commended the engineers for their innovation. “It is wonderful for me to lead my students to this point so that they gain the knowledge they need as future engineers of Liberia. We are also grateful to Firestone for the reception we received. It was overwhelming. When I last came here, I saw one wastewater treatment plant, but now we have another one. We appreciate the efforts of Firestone Liberia.” Mr. Korfeh remarked.
The wastewater treatment plant at Firestone Liberia
Students of the Stella Maris Polytechnic in Monrovia on a field tour of Firestone Liberia’s wastewater plant
