Portland’s wastewater workers get recognition on the silver screen – The Portland Press Herald

Report on the Documentary “Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong” and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

A documentary titled “Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong” premiered at the Portland Museum of Art, focusing on the operations of the Portland Water District’s East End Wastewater Treatment Facility. This report analyzes the film’s content and public reception in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The film serves to illuminate the critical, yet often unrecognized, role of wastewater management professionals in achieving key sustainability targets.

2.0 Primary Alignment with SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The documentary’s central theme is the relentless effort required to manage wastewater, a cornerstone of SDG 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The film effectively highlights several key aspects of this goal:

• Operational Demands: It portrays the round-the-clock labor necessary to maintain clean water, illustrating the continuous processes that prevent pollution and protect public health.
• Public Awareness: As stated by Scott Firmin, General Manager of the Portland Water District, “We have a society where people flush and their problems are gone.” The film directly confronts this lack of public awareness, a crucial step in fostering support for sanitation infrastructure.
• Human Element: By focusing on the workers, the documentary humanizes the sanitation sector, showcasing the dedication required to uphold the targets of SDG 6.

3.0 Contribution to Interlinked Sustainable Development Goals

The work depicted in the film demonstrates the interconnected nature of the SDGs. Beyond its primary focus on SDG 6, the narrative highlights progress and challenges related to several other goals:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The facility’s function is integral to preventing waterborne diseases and protecting community health. The film positions wastewater workers as essential frontline protectors of public well-being.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The documentary provides long-overdue recognition to a vital workforce. By celebrating their contribution, it promotes the value of essential jobs that are fundamental to a functioning and sustainable economy. Co-director Alex Wolf Lewis refers to them as “frontline workers” performing a service where “the flow never stops.”
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The film addresses significant challenges, including aging infrastructure, PFAS contamination, and sludge disposal crises. This underscores the urgent need for investment in resilient, sustainable, and innovative infrastructure as mandated by SDG 9.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Effective wastewater management is a non-negotiable component of a sustainable city. The facility’s operations are shown to be critical for making Portland a safe, resilient, and healthy urban environment.
5. SDG 14: Life Below Water: By treating wastewater before it is discharged, the facility’s work directly contributes to the reduction of land-based pollution, thereby protecting marine ecosystems and aquatic life in surrounding water bodies.

4.0 Impact on Public Perception and Community Engagement

The documentary has proven to be a powerful tool for public engagement, translating a technical and “gross” subject into a “thoughtful and heartwarming” narrative. Its success is a testament to its effectiveness in advancing the sustainability agenda at a community level.

• Community Recognition: The film’s sold-out screenings and the standing ovation for wastewater workers in attendance signify a tangible increase in community appreciation for their role in achieving local and global sustainability goals.
• Educational Value: It provides the public with a rare, accessible view into the complexities of water treatment, fostering a better understanding of the challenges and the importance of continued investment in this sector.
• Award-Winning Advocacy: Having won the audience award at the Camden International Film Festival, the documentary is an acclaimed piece of advocacy that raises the profile of sanitation work and its connection to environmental stewardship.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article, which focuses on a documentary about wastewater management in Portland, Maine, directly and indirectly addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary issues discussed—wastewater treatment, public health, infrastructure challenges, and the essential role of sanitation workers—connect to the following SDGs:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is the most prominent SDG, as the entire article revolves around the management of wastewater to ensure clean and healthy water for the community.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article highlights the wastewater workers’ “dedication to public health,” linking their work directly to preventing disease and ensuring a healthy environment.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: The mention of “aging infrastructure” as a significant challenge for the wastewater facility connects the discussion to the need for resilient and sustainable infrastructure.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The documentary’s purpose is to give recognition to the “often-forgotten” wastewater workers, highlighting their critical, “round-the-clock labor” and positioning them as “frontline workers,” which relates to the principles of decent work and appreciation for essential labor.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Effective wastewater treatment is a cornerstone of sustainable urban living. The article’s focus on managing municipal wastewater and dealing with a “sludge disposal crisis” is central to making cities environmentally sustainable.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific challenges and activities described in the article, the following SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
   • Explanation: The work of the East End Wastewater Treatment Facility is the embodiment of this target. The article mentions their efforts to keep water “clean and healthy” and the challenges they face, such as “PFAS contamination” and preventing “sewage overflow,” which are directly related to reducing pollution and treating wastewater.
2. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
   • Explanation: The article notes the workers’ “dedication to public health.” By treating sewage and managing contaminants like PFAS, they are directly working to prevent waterborne illnesses and reduce public health risks associated with water pollution.
3. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure…to support…human well-being.
   • Explanation: The article explicitly points to “aging infrastructure” as a key challenge. This highlights the need to invest in and maintain the wastewater treatment facility, which is a critical piece of public infrastructure for the well-being of the Portland community.
4. Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers.
   • Explanation: While not focused on labor rights, the article and the documentary it describes aim to bring recognition to wastewater workers, who are described as “frontline workers” who “don’t get the recognition they deserve.” This effort to value their labor aligns with the broader principles of decent work.
5. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to…municipal and other waste management.
   • Explanation: The facility’s function is a core part of Portland’s municipal waste management system. The mention of a “sludge disposal crisis” directly relates to the challenges cities face in managing the byproducts of their waste streams sustainably.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article is narrative rather than data-driven, but it mentions or implies several issues that can be used as indicators to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 6.3 (Proportion of wastewater safely treated): The existence and continuous, “round-the-clock” operation of the East End Wastewater Treatment Facility implies a high proportion of wastewater is being treated. The mention of a “rare sewage overflow” suggests that the frequency and volume of untreated sewage discharge events is a key performance indicator.
• Indicator for Targets 6.3 and 3.9 (Water quality and contamination levels): The specific mention of “PFAS contamination” implies that the concentration of PFAS and other hazardous chemicals in the treated water and resulting sludge is a critical indicator of the facility’s effectiveness and its contribution to public health.
• Indicator for Target 9.1 (Infrastructure quality): The phrase “aging infrastructure” serves as a qualitative indicator. Progress could be measured by tracking investment in infrastructure upgrades, the age of equipment, and reductions in failures or maintenance needs related to infrastructure age.
• Indicator for Target 11.6 (Waste management): The “sludge disposal crisis” is a direct indicator of challenges in waste management. Progress could be measured by the development and implementation of sustainable and long-term solutions for sludge disposal.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: pressherald.com