Where Does IT Go?
A children’s storybook written by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) and published in 2021 teaches students about the wastewater treatment process and careers in water while offering enriching STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) activities.
“Where Does IT Go?” is a free storybook that is available at mwrd.org for download; the book is published in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Polish. An award-winning animated edition is also available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Fourth-grade teachers within the MWRD service area can request a limited supply of printed books for their classrooms by emailing communityeducation@mwrd.org.
The storybook introduces the Water Science Explorers, a cast of fictional characters, Yadira, Paul, and Jessica. These three students are very curious and wonder what happens when they flush the toilet. They embark on a special mission to discover the mystery of where pee, poop, and toilet paper go.
Press Release
Brochure (Español)
Flyer (Español)
#MWRDwheredoesitgo
Download the book below.
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| English | Spanish | Polish | Chinese |
Educators within the MWRD service area may request an in-person or virtual presentation of our book for groups of 25 or more by completing this form. The virtual presentation may be conducted via ZOOM or your preferred meeting platform such as Google Meet.
Hey, Water Science Explorer! Please help the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago protect the waterways. Ask a parent or guardian to complete our Water Wellness pledge today.
Click here to take the pledge.
"What I love about the "Where Does it Go?" storybook is that it can be revisited again and again, exploring different concepts with the young reader every time, from the water cycle, to microbiology, to basic physics, to social responsibility, just to name a few. Using water treatment as the jumping off point, it spurs the young reader to be curious about the world around them: about their environment, about the value of resources, and about how their actions have consequences."
Tom Kunetz, Past President of the Water Environment Federation
"Thank you again for coming to our class at Palmer! Your (virtual) presentation fit in perfectly with our work in science."
Sincerely,
J. Ruff, NBCT, 8th-grade science and social studies teacher, Palmer Elementary School (Mayfair)
"We are very excited that you produced this book. Congrats! I have been looking for materials, in-person tours, or virtual presentations for my kids since they first expressed an interest in stormwater/wastewater - which was probably as soon as they could talk! I think this book will fill a need for information on an important topic at a stage when kids are naturally curious about it."
Meghan Meyer
“…My daughter at 5 is younger than the targeted age but she enjoyed the virtual tour last year and having the book this year has really captured her imagination. To her grandma's hilarious dismay "where does it go?" has become a favorite. I am glad we have it in our home, I learned new things even after taking the tour!
Thanks again.”
Deanne P.
"Szanowni Państwo, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Urząd ds. Uzdatniania Wody dla Aglomeracji Chicago wydał w kilku językach, w tym po polsku, książkę z ćwiczeniami i kolorowankami dla małych dzieci. Nauczyć można z niej młode pokolenie tego, co dzieje się po spuszczeniu wody i dlaczego to temat ważny dla każdego. MWRD obiecuje rozdawać te książeczki na swoich stoiskach podczas wszystkich imprez w których będą w tym roku uczestniczyć. Jeden egzemplarz trafił już w nasze ręce. W naszej ocenie warto ją dla, czytającego już, dziecka zdobyć. Nawet z maluchami, które dopiero się uczą czytać, można śmiało usiąść i pokazując obrazki opowiedzieć o sekretach kryjących się w wodociągach. Autentycznie ciekawe."
Polish Consulate in Chicago
The Daily Southtown - Review
If you have feedback or would like to submit a book review from either yourself or your student for potential use in our promotional efforts, please email public.affairs@mwrd.org with the review, name of reviewer, and age of student (for those under 18) and the adult’s job title (optional).