Free Metropolitan Water Reclamation District tour

After reading the disturbing article in the NYTimes about how Chicago almost flooded New Orleans/Katrina style on May 17, 2020 (and may do so any day now) I was researching our Cook County water treatment system and stumbled into Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) tours. Apparently in ordinary times they offer in-person facility tours which are now postponed until further notice. In place of that they are offering Virtual tours. Registration required.

When: August 17, 2021 2pm-3:15pm Register and September 14, 2021 10am-11:15am Register

Where: Virtual

This tour includes a trip back in time to early Chicago to see how the MWRD reversed the Chicago River and developed wastewater treatment technology. Go behind the scenes and under water to see how they process the water; travel 300 feet into the deep tunnel system, and watch an electrofishing crew at work sampling fish on the Chicago River.

Our virtual tours are free and open to the public. Registration is required. No time on your schedule? Click here to watch a one hour recorded tour.

Free The Green Neighbor Guide Learn ways you can help reduce stormwater runoff that may end up as raw sewage bubbling up into someone else’s basement.