Mike Rowe gets dirty in Moorhead

Making friends in Moorhead — After 36 years on the job, Thursday was Jeff Wettstein's last day at work at Moorhead Public Service. It was also the day the Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs" filmed a segment at Moorhead's water treatment plant. Wettstein, left, is seen with the show's host, Mike Rowe. Photo special to The Forum

By David Olson

April 29, 2011 at 11:00 PM

MOORHEAD - Treating Moorhead's drinking water can be a dirty job.

How dirty?

Tune in to the Discovery Channel this fall, when the show "Dirty Jobs" will feature a segment on Moorhead's water treatment plant.

Filming took place Thursday, when the show's host, Mike Rowe, helped Moorhead Public Service workers perform maintenance on the plant's water softening basin, a catch-all for the muck that forms when minerals are removed from Moorhead's drinking water.

Troy Hall, MPS water division manager, said Rowe indicated the job was one of the dirtiest the program has covered in a long time.

MPS General Manager Bill Schwandt said the filming doubled as a great send-off for MPS employee Jeff Wettstein, who retired Thursday after 36 years with the city.

Earlier this past week, "Dirty Jobs" was in Dickinson, N.D., to film construction of a communications tower.

Before coming to Moorhead, "Dirty Jobs" producers were in touch with MPS about possible tasks to film.

Hall said MPS workers sent the show footage of cleaning being done in the water-softening basin of the water plant. MPS officials said an air date has not been set for the "Dirty Jobs" episode featuring Moorhead, but it is expected to run sometime this fall.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Dave Olson at (701) 241-5555

By David Olson

I'm a reporter and a photographer and sometimes I create videos to go with my stories.

I graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead and in my time with The Forum I have covered a number of beats, from cops and courts to business and education.

I've also written about UFOs, ghosts, dinosaur bones and the planet Pluto.

You may reach me by phone at 701-241-5555, or by email at dolson@forumcomm.com.

Mike Rowe gets dirty in Moorhead

MOORHEAD - Treating Moorhead's drinking water can be a dirty job. How dirty? Tune in to the Discovery Channel this fall, when the show "Dirty Jobs" will feature a segment on Moorhead's water treatment plant. Filming took place Thursday, when the ...