Future Field Trips:

Deep Tunnel Systems: The $4 billion Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP), better known as “The Deep Tunnel,” is the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago's answer to water pollution and sewer backup problems in 52 municipalities in Cook County. Begun in 1975, and at one time the nation's largest municipal water pollution control project, it involves the construction of 109 miles (174 kilometers) of tunnels 9 to 33 feet (3 to 10 meters) in diameter excavated in dolomitic limestone bedrock as much as 350 feet (107 meters) below the surface. These tunnels will collect combined sanitary and storm sewer flows and convey them to surface reservoirs, such as quarries, for storage until the area's water reclamation plants can treat and safely discharge the effluent.

Stickney Wastewater Treatment Plant: The Stickney Water Reclamation Plant (SWRP) is the largest wastewater treatment facility in the world. SWRP serves 2.3 million people in a 260 square mile area including the central part of Chicago and 46 suburban communities. Encompassing 413 acres, the WRP is home to nearly 400 employees, who oversee the treatment of up to 1 million gallons of water per minute, similar to pumping two Olympic size swimming pools in one minute. SWRP cleans an average of 700 million gallons of water per day and has the capacity to treat up to 1.44 billion gallons per day. SWRP consists of two plants; the west side portion of the plant was placed into service in 1930 and the southwest portion of the plant was placed into service in 1939.