Board Approves Resolution to Advance Reuse of Treated Water

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting

July 17, 2025

The Board approved a resolution calling for the advancement of water reuse in a practical, cost-effective, and phased-in manner and called for the following sequence of actions:    

• Conduct a targeted survey of potential non-potable reuse customers within one year of approval with the goal of identifying at least one viable pilot reuse study.
• If a viable reuse project is identified, it will be presented to the MWRD Board for consideration and approval to negotiate an agreement with customers and stakeholders and initiated within 36 months from the conclusion of the study.
• Actively pursue external funding sources and cost-sharing arrangements.

Stated in the resolution: The District’s treated effluent (water) is often already of sufficient quality for use in irrigation, commercial, and industrial applications and the Kirie and Egan water treatment plants are currently providing their effluent to local park districts.  #3 25-0562

Deleted or Deferred Items

• #20 25-0507  Deleted by the E.D.  Authority to advertise for bids for Roof Replacement and Rehabilitation at various locations. Estimated cost between $3.9 and $4.7 million.
• #43 25-0535  Deferred by V.P. Flynn for boiler tuning and maintenance services at $1.2 million.
• #46 25-0490  2nd Deferral by President Steele for a $1.2 million increase to a $39.9 million contract for Street Conduit rehabilitation.  Required a voice vote for 2nd deferral.

Other Approved Agenda Items

• Advertise for State Legislative Consulting Services, at an estimated cost of $100,00 (four separate contracts in an amount not to exceed $25,000 annually). Flynn asked for information on what specialized professional services do not require RFPs.  #18 25-0504
• Issue contract for lab analysis of Per and Poly (PFAS) substances and organic fluorine in wastewater samples to Enthalpy Analytical, LLC at $63,500.  Davis requested that the M&R Department look into accreditation and certification for this type of services through universities and can this be incorporated into the university master agreements       #34 25-0536
• Agree to enter into a collaborative research project with the U. of Ill. on the environmental benefits and use of biosolids for production of Industrial Hemp at an estimated cost of $90,261.  This item was deleted in June.  Flynn is a big supporter of researching the benefits of hemp and its possible use for mitigating PFAS chemicals.   #35  25-0538
• Report on the 2024 annual Comprehensive Finance Report of the MWRD’s Retirement Fund which was valued at $1.69B.  Overall, the fund is in excellent shape because the investment market has risen significantly since the Covid years.  The Fund Manager recommends diversification with less emphasis on Stock equity.   #56 25-0548

​Other Items of Interest:

• At the beginning of the meeting, Com Ed presented the MWRD with a check for $423,222 representing the value of the incentives from participating in the utility’s program since 2019.  Com Ed wants to add the Stickney Plant to the other four in the program which has saved 7 gigawatt hours - enough to serve 800 homes for a year and reduce the carbon output by 5 million pounds.                   
  

Observer - Diane Edmundson