WHO: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD)

WHAT: The MWRD will host an open house to welcome visitors of all ages for a behind-the-scenes look at how the MWRD transforms water and protects the region’s environment. 

WHERE: Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, 6001 W. Pershing, Cicero, IL

WHEN: Saturday, August 2, 2025, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The public is invited to learn about the region’s water cycle by following the flush to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s (MWRD’s) Stickney Water Reclamation Plant. Visitors will see how wastewater is transformed and returned to the environment as clean water in a matter of hours.

Guests of all ages are invited to take an abbreviated tour of the plant, meet with MWRD staff for interactive activities and take home free oak tree saplings, milkweed and native wildflower seeds to support stormwater management and the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly and other pollinators. Guests can also drop off unwanted medicine as part of the MWRD’s collection campaign to keep pharmaceuticals out of area water resources.

Visitors are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes and suitable attire for an industrial environment. If guests like what they see on these tours, they are welcome to schedule a full in-person tour or register for a virtual tour. For more information, visit mwrd.org or call (312) 751-6633.