Sewerage District and Public Market unveil 14 “Learning Lavatories” to educate and inspire water users
MADISON, Wis. (May 14, 2026) — When Madison Public Market opens this summer, even a quick trip to the restroom will be a new experience. On Thursday, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District and Madison Public Market held a special event to unveil the “Learning Lavatories,” 14 custom-designed restrooms that turn a routine stop into a tour of where regional wastewater goes, with creative reminders that the system works only as well as we do.
“Bathrooms are where water use is front and center and where many sewer problems start,” said Catherine Harris, Pollution Prevention Specialist at the District. “By sparking curiosity and making the invisible visible, we hope to inspire small changes that make a big difference for water quality, infrastructure and our environment.”
The Learning Lavatories educate and inspire in two distinct ways:
- On the first floor, the “Where will you go?” restrooms walk Marketgoers through the collect-treat-return wastewater treatment process.
- Upstairs, the “CAN” bathrooms turn the lens on the user, showcasing what every toilet, sink and shower user CAN do. This includes disposing of wipes in the trash, putting grease in the garbage, keeping leaves out of the lakes and gutters, and taking paint and household chemicals to Clean Sweep, to protect the wastewater system and our local watershed.
“The bathrooms will be an absolute surprise and delight for Market visitors,” said Keisha Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Madison Public Market. “They extend the Market’s commitment to sustainability and to supporting our local community.”
Madison Public Market sits at the corner of East Johnson and First streets on the grounds of Madison’s first wastewater treatment plant, built in 1899, and is adjacent to the District’s Pumping Station 1. Call it a surprising coincidence, or the kind of full-circle cycle only a wastewater facility could appreciate.
“What happens to our wastewater is unseen, and we know, not always top of mind,” said Eric Dundee, Executive Director of the District. “But with half a million people walking through these doors every year, the Learning Lavatories give us a chance to bring that work into the light. They’ve created a fun way to educate, build community connections to our work and protect public health every step of the way, from our homes and businesses to our Nine Springs treatment plant and waterways.”
The new restrooms were designed in collaboration with a local firm, Art & Sons.
Madison Public Market plans to open in Summer 2026. Until then, take a virtual tour of the bathrooms at madsewer.org/mpm.
