A packed day two has now come to a close, whether we were attending lectures at the famous Charles University, touring the only water filtration site inside Prague, Podoli, or grabbing a quick Czech snack between lectures, we were always on the move. It felt nice to experience something similar to what a student here would experience, and in some ways it wasn’t all that different from back home, and in others, it was very different.
My highlight today was visiting the water filtration site, Podoli. Going into today, it was what I was least excited for, and I could not have been more wrong. There were many intricacies to do with the history and operation of the site. We were told about a three step process of filtration, which turned water straight from the Vltava, into drinking water for Prague. The technical procedures were very interesting and ever evolving, they even recently started treating water with UV light. Our guide was amazing and he made it clear to us how important clean drinking water was, especially to the Czechs. The tour of Podoli not only showcased the technical capabilities that the Czechs have to build such intricate systems and pieces of infrastructure, but also the pride they take in their own quality of life. Through the care and thought behind their infrastructure for water, we were able to see how much Czechs value the things which are vital to everyone’s well-being, making us feel a little more at home on day two.
Swanson School of Engineering 