The Alexandria Sanitation Authority is committed to its community. Few people walking down Payne Street , playing ball at the Lee Center , or eating outside Whole Foods on a warm day are aware that less than a half-mile away is a fully-functioning wastewater treatment plant. That is no accident. ASA went the extra mile to control odors, use renewable energy sources, and reduce the number of trucks rumbling through its neighborhood. But that's not all…

• ASA employees help remove trash and debris at the Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup each year.

• ASA is an active supporter of Alexandria Earth Day. This year, it created an exhibit that provided visitors with hands-on displays and tips to keep pollutants out of the Chesapeake Bay.

• Together with the City of Alexandria's Environmental Policy Commission, ASA sponsors the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award, named in honor of Mrs. Pickering's lifelong dedication to preservation and conservation in the City of Alexandria . The award recognizes outstanding citizens who have demonstrated their commitment to protecting the natural environment and promoting environmental sustainability.

• ASA's door is wide open for visitors. Each year, ASA hosts educational tours for local schools, the military, engineering students, and businesses who want to learn what happens to water once it goes down the drain.

• In 2009, ASA was a partner in the Earth Force Youth Summit held in Northern Virginia. ASA employees provided an exhibit and taught the students the best way to handle waste at home to protect its watershed. Earth Force is a national non-profit dedicated to “hands-on, real-world opportunities to practice civic skills, acquire and understand environmental knowledge, and develop the skills and motivation to become life-long leaders in addressing environmental issues.”

• ASA is a participant in EcoCity Alexandria, the City of Alexandria and Virginia Tech's Department of Urban Affairs and Planning collaboration to guide Alexandria toward sustainability.

• ASA offers its facilities each year to the Alexandria City Fire and Police Departments and EMS to practice rescues from tall structures and perform other drills.

• ASA calls on local students to participate in the annual Stockholm Junior Water Prize, which is the world's most prestigious youth award for a water-related science project for high school students. ASA provides local high schools with information on the contest and encourages local participation.