In honor of World Water Day 2012, 59 HaloSource employees spent the day doing hands-on habitat restoration work March 21 at King County’s new Brightwater treatment center near Woodinville.

Bothell’s HaloSource employees worked together to clear nearly two acres of land —primarily removing invasive blackberry bushes so that native plants can grow and thrive in this habitat area.

The facility opened to the public Sept.24, 2011, and offers a new park with three miles of walking trails, 70 acres of public open space and 40 acres of salmon, bird and amphibian habitat. The area offers overlooks and picnic spots and is open from dawn until dusk.

“We were thrilled to welcome HaloSource employees to the Brightwater center to celebrate World Water Day by helping us maintain and improve this community amenity,” said King Country Water Water Division employee, Pam Elardo. “The work the company does on a global scale is inspiring and aligned with our mission of protecting public health and enhancing the environment, so we’re grateful for their choice to invest their time volunteering at Brightwater.”

HaloSource is committed to finding opportunities to give back, both internationally and within the community. Partnering with the Brightwater facility was a perfect fit, as HaloSource is a clean-water technology company focused on the provision of cleaner, clearer and safer water in drinking, recreation and environmental applications.

Martin Coles, CEO of HaloSource, stressed the importance of the work, saying, “It is our obligation to play an active role of service within our home community here in Bothell, and we are thrilled to be able to partner with Brightwater in this effort given our shared commitment to protecting our most precious resource, water.

“HaloSource technology can make a real difference in the lives of others, whether it’s through our drinking water purification systems or our green remediation applications, which clean and protect water sources across the world. We look forward to a continued partnership with Brightwater that goes beyond this event.”

Added Debbie Krogman, vice president of human resources at HaloSource: “We all had a great time. We saw two blue herons and several ducks and I learned to distinguish the vines of a blackberry bush from a native rose bush… which I almost accidentally killed!”

The Brightwater Environmental Education and Community Center (EECC) is envisioned to be the heart of the local community and a popular environmental interpretive attraction that provides educational, motivational and enriching experiences. The center will become an educational experience serving the region and a nationally recognized model for a local center linking existing educational, research, professional and apprenticeship programs with the construction and operation of new wastewater facilities.

King County and IslandWood educators will open the Brightwater center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 24 for a celebration of World Water Day. Kids and adults of all ages are welcome to join in a day of exploration and discovery of water resources. More information and pre-registration for treatment plant tours is available at http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/brightwater-center/education/tour-plant.aspx.