Sewage Plant Offers Valentine's Day Tours On Fetid Newtown Creek In Brooklyn (VIDEO)

Love is in the air -- and it stinks.

New York City's Department of Environmental Protection will offer tours of of its state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant in Brooklyn on Valentine's Day, the New York Daily News reports.

It's a date that's sure to make anyone's heart melt -- or at least their eyes tear, and not from job. In fact, the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant sits on one of the most fetid waterways in the country.

"It's a unique date, and one they'll never forget," plant superintendent Jim Pynn told the paper. "Just imagine going home and saying, ‘Where did he take me on Valentine’s Day? I went to see the digester eggs in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.'"

He's referring to the plant's gigantic egg-shaped "digesters," which process waste much like a human stomach, turning toxic sludge into treatable byproducts.

If that doesn't please the palate, it's important to remember that this is Newtown Creek, a waterway so foul that the federal government is commissioning an emergency cleanup. The Brooklyn Paper reports:

The creek, one of the most polluted waterways in the northeast, contains a toxic mix of chemicals that have leaked from its industrial banks in both Brooklyn and Queens for more than 150 years, but the pollution was only first discovered by the Coast Guard in 1978. Federal officials estimate that it could take between 10 and 15 years to clean up completely and have not estimated its cost.

Joking aside, there really is a beautiful view of Manhattan at the site, Lynn told the Daily News. Plus, visitors between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. receive a Hershey kiss.

Pynn says each Valentine's Day visitor will get a Hershey kiss – and at least something to talk about.

Comments

[babby201]

11:36 PM on 02/13/2012

Reminds me of when I realized the honeymoon was over, the christmass I got new snow tires instead of jewelry.

[dragnetadam12]

07:18 PM on 02/13/2012

So crappy and so romantic at the same time.

[123pieguy]

11:46 AM on 02/13/2012

What was that? Ventilation Day?

[postofficemike]

09:59 AM on 02/13/2012

This story stinks!

[Rooftop Voter]

08:03 AM on 02/13/2012

Nothing says love and togetherness more on Valentine's Day than standing at the railing of a sewage treatment polishing pond, holding hands, whispering sweet nothings in each other's ear---------------------------and watching fecal matter float by. The only thing that would cap this perfect day would be a romantic din din at Denny's.

[Rooftop Voter]

07:56 AM on 02/13/2012

(Music refrain in the backgound) "A three hour tour"............................

[sugarcreekchile]

04:05 AM on 02/13/2012

If he takes you to the sewage plant on Valentine's Day, it'd be a safe guess that he's not that into you.

[Xak999]

07:52 PM on 02/12/2012

The very thought of these 'digester eggs' is so completely terrifying. I mean, what if they hatch?

[Rooftop Voter]

07:51 AM on 02/13/2012

Visions of "Alien" come to mind.

[Xak999]

12:28 AM on 02/14/2012

Part 5: "Alien Excrement"

[FactsvsFear]

04:10 PM on 02/12/2012

Valentines day sucks. It's a scam. It's always only about what you do on THAT day. Not anything else. A man could be loyal and loving. A model husband and father but on that one day that one moment if he doesn't listen to those commercials and buy her that ring that car that THING. Then he must not love you. Sick. I am lucky that I don't fall into that section that I see many of my poor buddy's fall into. My wife feels the same about that lame day as I do. I have some friends who are terrified if they cannot afford that THING she wants. One buddy sold some of his collection of comics he had for over 30 years!! From age 5! And cried while doing it! Not because he loved her so. Oh how sweet. No he was afraid! He is a great husband! He didn't want all he does to be thrown out in one day because she didn't get that THING!

That's not love. That's sick. No. Love is remembering that time you were sick and didn't know what was wrong with you and you were scared and he saw you thru it. He or she was stronger for you because you were weaker. It's the way they fix that favorite meak of yours

[postofficemike]

10:00 AM on 02/13/2012

By yourself, huh?

[FactsvsFear]

11:46 AM on 02/16/2012

No. I am happily married to a hot wondeful wife and two great kids. My wife feels the same way I do. We don't need a day to tell us to buy things to show our love. The 12 years we have been together and all the things we do at random show the love. No I am not alone. Dude I have a 6 year old and 8 year old boys and a wife. Being alone in my house is a pleasure at times.

[oceanview136]

03:50 PM on 02/12/2012

I wonder how many "takers" there will be for this VERY unusual, smelly tour ??

[esaustew]

03:10 PM on 02/12/2012

I'll buy tickets now! "Come on honey, have I got a suprise for V-Day!"

[Paul Houston]

08:22 AM on 02/12/2012

Aww, I thought this was going to be Crossness Sewage pumping station in London. A grade one listed Victorian sewage pumping station with elaborate cast iron decorations. Now that is worth visiting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossness_Pumping_Station

[wilsoncombatgrl]

02:24 AM on 02/12/2012

Unfortunately, the Hershey Kiss is not made from chocolate.

[bekakiraly]

05:45 PM on 02/11/2012

This is even worse than Russell Stovers.

[caugrl]

02:47 PM on 02/11/2012

That is a great way to break up with someone without having to do the dirty work yourself. The sewer plant will do the dirty work for you.

[Ihearyou777]

06:04 PM on 02/12/2012

Wow, talk about passive-aggressive! Just "dump" your date off at the plant. No words necessary.