Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong

How it feels

This documentary follows the staff of a wastewater treatment plant in Portland, Maine. It shows their daily struggles with aging equipment and hazardous chemicals while the public remains unaware of their work.

observationalsoberingeducationalquietly urgentinformativegroundedeye-opening

What happens

Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong is a 73-minute 2025 documentary by Kaitlyn Schwalje (director and screenwriter) and Alexander Wolf Lewis (director). It explores the state of America's ageing infrastructure by spending time with the staff inside a wastewater treatment plant in Portland, Maine and examining their struggles with ageing equipment, forever chemicals, and a public that doesn't comprehend all that goes into keeping our environment clean. It won the Audience Award at the 2025 Camden International Film Festival and the Audience Choice – Documentary Award at the 2025 New Hampshire Film Festival. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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