MWRA offers School Education Program presentations for grades K-12. Subjects range from the Quabbin Reservoir and the distribution system to Deer Island and the transformation of wastewater into effluent.

Schools are not charged for this service. However, they must be located in an MWRA community. Click here for a list of MWRA communities.

Classroom visits are scheduled on a first come/first serve basis. It’s not too early to book classroom presentations for the upcoming school year.

Here are some of our most popular presentations:

Down the Drain
An interactive presentation that answers the questions: What is wastewater?…Where does it come from?…Where does it go? The 30“ X 40” presentation boards depict each stage of the wastewater treatment process. Props are velcroed to the boards to show what get stopped along the way. Students see actual samples of wastewater as it progresses through the system.
Recommended grade levels: 4 –12. More information and terminology is introduced with the upper grades.

Building the System
Using straws and cardboard tubes, students will build a model water distribution system throughout the classroom. Discussion subjects include water pressure, public health and safety, maintenance, repair, and planning of infrastructure.
Recommended grade levels: 3 – 5.

Flush Back Time
History and technology meet in this original MWRA production. This slide show presentation documents the history of the toilet and plumbing systems and the changes in technology through the centuries. It also follows the history of waste disposal methods throughout the ages. See and discuss slides of garderobes used in medieval times to present-day vacuum toilets.
Recommended grade levels: 4-12.

pH Activity
Questions answered during this presentation include…How does the MWRA treat drinking water?…What makes water safe to drink?…What is lead and how does it present a problem in drinking water supply systems? Using gloves and goggles, students will work in groups to measure the pH of drinking water.
Recommended grade level: 5-8.

Dwayne the Storm Drain
“Dwayne” takes students through each season explaining how nature and humans affect the storm water system. After reading this colorful big book, students will understand their connection to the system.
Recommended grade levels: K-4.

Drawing the System
Students are introduced to the water delivery system. Using crayons and large paper rolled out in the middle of the classroom, students work together to create a map connecting pipes to buildings in their community.
Recommended grade levels: 2 & 3.

Inventory Activity
Discussion of water use and awareness of water in homes and schools will be addressed during this presentation. Students will create graphs of their water use.
Recommended grade levels: K-2.

The Day the Water Stopped
Sparks the curiosity and awareness of the importance of water in daily lives of the students. After reading this big book to the students, the work pages provided are to act as a springboard for discussion, a catalyst for dramatic interpretation, or maybe even a hunt at home with Mom and Dad to discover things that use water.
Recommended grade levels: K-2.

To schedule a classroom visit, please contact Meg Tabacsko by phone: 617-660-7975 or by email meg.tabacsko@mwra.state.ma.us