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Love And Sewage: Brooklyn Wastewater Treatment Plant Again Offers Valentine's Tours

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Forget flowers and candy this Valentine's Day.

Instead, you and your significant other can tour the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, CBS2's Alice Gainer reported.

"After the wastewater leaves your house, a lot of people have the whole perception that that's it," said Zainool Ali, plant superintendent. "Coming to the plant and going to the the tour, they actually see there's a whole world after you flush the toilet."

"You can actually follow physically where the processing starts ... until it enters out to the East River," Ali said.

Before you go pooh-poohing the idea: This is the third year the plant, known for its massive shiny, silver digester eggs, has been doing this, and interest is so high, it has added an additional tour.

"It's the newest, the biggest, the brightest wastewater facility in New York City," Ali said.

There's only a slight smell. And Gainer recommended dressing warmly because it is a bit chilly.

And if waste isn't really your thing, the good news? You can't beat the view of the city skyline.

The free tour lasts about 45 minutes. There are three separate tours scheduled for Feb. 14, but according to the city Department of Environmental Protection's website, the tours have reached maximum capacity.

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