分类: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

MWRD Thanked for Helping to Make the Chicago River Clean Enough for Swimming

9/12/2025

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
August 14, 2025

In opening public comments, Tessa Murray of the Friends of the Chicago River announced the first annual Chicago River Open Water Swim, slated for September 21, and sponsored by the Friends. She thanked the Board for the vision and investment of the MWRD for making the river clean enough for human contact, saying even a decade ago such an event would have been unthinkable at a time when people considered the River an extension of the sewer system. She credited new EPA water quality standards enacted in 2018 and the MWRD’s compliance as instrumental in creating conditions allowing the first Chicago River swimming event in more than a century. She said access to swimmable rivers enhances recreation opportunities for all urban residents. In addition to swimming, the cleaner river now boasts 77 different species of fish.

Agenda Items Discussed

Commissioner Davis pulled agenda item 2. 25-0631 asking for a roll call vote and saying he intended to vote no on a motion to hire David Ormsby, Inc as public relations consultant for an additional year at a cost not to exceed $48,000. In discussion Commissioner Davis and Commissioner Waller said they thought the District would benefit from someone with different skills in this position. Commissioner Flynn countered, saying the firm was qualified. The motion passed, with Davis the only Commissioner to vote no.
Commissioner Davis also pulled agenda item 14. 25-0621 which authorized paying annual membership dues of $35,000 to the Chicago Area Waterways Chloride Workgroup. The Commissioner understood this was to be a temporary working group, and asked when it’s work, and the need for dues, would end. Staff explained the importance of the MWRD’s lead working with municipalities reducing salt impacts on waterways, and acting Executive Director Murray said he expected to group to continue indefinitely. The item was returned to the agenda and approved.
Commissioner Garcia pulled item 39. 25-647-11, a $1.2 million dollar boiler service contract without discussion, and asked for its deferral. The deferral passed in a roll call vote.

Items approved without discussion:
Stormwater Management

Item 17. 25-0590 The Board agreed to seek bids to purchase Rain Barrels at an estimated cost of $450,000.
Item 40. 25-0578 The Board awarded a $2.2 million contract to construct a Green Schoolyard Pilot project at Burnham Elementary School to Foundation Mechanics LLC and other partners. The project, which combines stormwater management with a new playground in Burham, was approved to go out for bid at the October 17, 2024 Board meeting.
Item 18. 25-0593 The Board agreed to seek bids to rehabilitate the Upper Des Plaines Intercepting Sewer at a cost between $16.1 and 19.5 million dollars.

Pollution Control-Phosphorus Removal

Item 48. 25-0609 The Board agreed to increase the amount of a previously contract award to IHC Construction Companies LLC to modify phosphorus removal equipment at Battery D of the O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant, to $15.5 million from the previous $15.4 million; an increase of $117,170,72.

New Business

President Steele announced three ribbon-cutting events celebrating MWRD project completions, including a dam removal at Salt Creek in DuPage County; completion of a new levy providing flood relief to 29 structures in Glenwood; and green alley stormwater management projects in Markham.

Observer: Laurie Morse No Executive Session Held All 9 commissioners in attendance

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Board Approves Resolution to Advance Reuse of Treated Water

7/30/2025

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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

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MWRD Board Quickly Deals with Agenda

7/1/2025

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board Meeting
June 26, 2025

In 30 minutes, the Board dealt with the 29 agenda items with some limited discussion.
Absent: Commissioners Precious Brady-Davis and Yumeka Brown.

Items deleted (no reason stated) from the agenda by Acting Executive Director Murphy:

A proposal to enter into a Collaborative Research Project with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne pursuant to a Master Agreement on the Environmental Benefits and Use of Biosolids for Production of Industrial Hemp with an estimated cost of $90,261. File 25-0473, Agenda # 15.
A proposed purchase order for Laboratory Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Adsorbable Organic Fluorine in Wastewater Samples to Enthalpy Analytical for up to $63,500. File 25-0495, Agenda #20.

Items deferred:

Comm. Waller deferred the Authority to advertise a furnishing and delivering contract for ferric chloride with an estimated cost of $22.5 M. She is looking for a comparison report to be provided. President Steele confirmed with Mr. Murphy that this deferral would not delay any testing. File 25-0485, Agenda #11.
Commissioner Garcia deferred the item to increase a contract with Michels Trenchless for 39th Street Conduit Rehabilitation by an amount of $1.25 M. File 25-0490, Agenda # 25.

The remaining 25 items were approved, with 2 discussed:

Comm. Waller asked about the recent history of compliance with the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) by Tradebe Environmental Services which is to provide hazardous waste disposal from various MWRD locations under a new contract. Assurances were given that while there had been some violations, these were relatively minor and the vendor had fully cooperated with the EPA. File 25-0488, Agenda # 22.
Comm. Davis asked for a sense of when, after negotiations, the intergovernmental agreements would be signed and projects commenced for the stormwater partnership projects submitted by municipalities that made the list of possible projects. Mr. Murphy said the next step will be to come to the Board for approval to negotiate agreements and hopefully some of these will move toward construction within a year. File 25-0491, Agenda # 28.

New Business:

Vice President Flynn promoted “Plastic-free July” at the MWRD.
President Steele announced that Comm. Brady-Davis would be attending a Harvard Executive Program in July.

There was no Executive Session.

Observer: Priscilla Mims

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MWRD Board Meeting Showcased Pride Month and Puerto Rican Pride Day

6/20/2025

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD)
Board Meeting
June 5, 2025

Agenda Items:

#1 (25-0416) The text of the Pride Month statement was read into the record. Commissioner Precious-Brady Davis spoke recalling the history of Stone Wall and thanked the Chicago Parks Foundation for the installation of an AIDS Garden. Commissioner Garcia added his thanks to the director of the Chicago Parks Foundation.
#3-(25-0442) Commissioner Garcia spoke to the celebration of Puerto Rican Pride Day and reminded the audience that there are 250,000 Puerto Ricans in Chicago.
#5(25-0404) Results of the 2024 Annual Comprehensive financial Report of the MWRD of Greater Chicago and of the MWRD Retiree HealthCare Trust audits were presented by Adelfia. The financial information was deemed reliable and no issues arose in the process.
#24-(25-0440) Commissioner Flynn questioned why there was an annual $5000 fee for the Blue Island Fire Department’s use of one acre of land for training purposes. It is currently a parking lot. Answer: public access is the key. The use will no longer allow public access and thus, a fee must be assessed.
#27-(25-0445) Resolution: Commissioner Davis stated that building the ecological health of waterways is not just for recreation. We need a clean river from the bottom up. He thanked the Friends of Chicago River and many other organizations involved in advancing Chicago Area Waterway System Ecological Health.

New Business:

Commissioner Waller: reported that HB2516 (PFAS ban on certain products including personal care) was passed in the General Assembly.

Executive Session: None Meeting length: 77 minutes
Observer: Georgia Gebhardt

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ETHOS Requests Soil Testing at Old US Steel Site

5/20/2025

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD)
Board of Commissioners Meeting
May 15, 2025
Public Speakers

Speakers from the Calumet Harbor area environmental group, ETHOS, asked the MWRD to monitor water pollution issues that could occur at the old US Steel site at 8080 S. Lake Shore Drive. The last EPA soil tests are from the 1990s. The group wants to get updated testing on the soil and is concerned that disturbing the soil during construction will lead to massive air and water contamination.

Agenda Items Discussed

Com. Waller pulled items #11&12, 25-0349, 25-0351 to make sure that when the MWRD hires attorneys to begin the process of eminent domain in flood areas, that they are required to do community engagement plans that include small group education, in addition to town hall-style meetings. Director Murray assured them that MWRD requires small breakout groups to give community residents a chance to ask questions before a larger meeting occurs. He will forward communication plans.
Coms. Brady-Davis and Waller discussed item #28 25-0365, The Bally’s casino development at the old Chicago Tribune plant on the Chicago River. Com. Waller was concerned about ensuring public access and emergency egress, while Com. Brady-Davis was thankful that the MWRD was proactive at the site. Director Murray said this is not MWRD land and so it has no Chicago River jurisdiction other than to protect MWRD infrastructure.
Coms. Davis and Waller discussed item#32, 25-0398, the sub-lease of land by Lakeshore Recycling Systems to ORA composting. Com. Davis was concerned that ORA could be an SIU (significant industrial user of water), while Com. Waller wanted to make sure emergency egress was possible at the site. Director Murray assured her that a marina was adjacent to the site. The board will be apprised of water usage by ORA.

Stormwater Management

Passed without comment were 15 intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) for stormwater management through green alley re-pavement and roads with Arlington Heights, Berwyn, Calumet City, Cicero, Countryside, Forest Park, Glenview, LaGrange Park, Lyons, Markham, Maywood, Oak Park, River Forest, River Grove, and Westchester.
The board also passed an IGA with the Forest Preserve for land acquisition, concept planning, and engineering for a multi-benefit flood control project located in Southeast Cook County

New Business

Com. Waller announced the PFAS regulation bill moved from the house to the senate, HB 2516, with Julie Morrison as sponsor. She urged people to call their senators to get the bill passed.
Com. Davis announced the Federal cuts by 90% to EPA Clean Water Revolving Funds ($3billion).

No Executive Session Held All 9 commissioners in attendance
Observer: Amy Little

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MWRD Hears Concerns from ETHOS Regarding the Proposed South Works Project

4/17/2025

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD)
Board Meeting
April 17, 2025

The request to advertise a contract to furnish and deliver lamps and emergency lighting was deleted by the Acting Executive Director (Agenda Item # 18, 25-0294). All other agenda items were approved, with no discussion of the merits.

Ann Hokum of ETHOS (Environment, Transportation, and Open Space, a registered block club in the South Shore Community) raised concerns about the proposed Quantum Computing development at the South Works site and the potential toxic pollutants at the site that could impact Lake Michigan through storm water run-off. The group is also concerned about the issue of industrial water usage at the site and wants to make sure there is a closed system used to prevent any discharges.
Commissioner Waller did pull the reappointment of two people to the MWRD’s Ethics Commission for discussion, but in order for an explanation as to how the public can find out how to submit a complaint to the Ethics Commission. Acting Executive Director John Murray said that the information is on the MWRD web site. Note: This Observer did a search on the MWRD web site and found the information is located at https://mwrd.org/what-we-do/management-and-administration/ethics-commission-and-ethics-advisor
During the New Business section, President Steele and Commissioners McElroy Kirkwood and Brady-Davis talked about the MWRD’s trip to Springfield the prior week to meet with legislators of both parties to lobby for their legislative priorities. Commissioner Waller mentioned one bill that the MWRD supported, HB2515, that has passed out of the House and is now in the Senate. This bill is called the PFAS Wastewater Citizen Protection Act.

While not discussed, there were 2 items pertaining to Stormwater Management:

A report on submittals from municipalities and townships seeking assistance through the MWRD’s Voluntary Flood-Prone Property Acquisition Program (Agenda Item #29, 25-0308.) There were 3 submissions, identifying 40 properties. After review, 2 of the 3 proposals in Lyons and Markham are recommended as projects, but for a total of 22 properties. There will be a subsequent request for Board approval to negotiate intergovernmental agreements.
A request for authority to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of La Grange Park for the MWRD to fund $4 M of the total estimated cost of $13.2 M for a Central Area Sewer Separation Project. This project is expected to mitigate flooding, benefitting an estimated 522 structures, and to reduce impacts on local roadways by increasing sewer capacity ad providing detention for excess stormwater runoff.

Length of Business Meeting: 30 minutes, with an Executive Session of 1 hour and 10 minutes prior to New Business at the end of the meeting.

Observer: Priscilla Mims

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MWRD Thanked for Helping to Make the Chicago River Clean Enough for Swimming

Board Approves Resolution to Advance Reuse of Treated Water

MWRD Board Quickly Deals with Agenda

MWRD Board Meeting Showcased Pride Month and Puerto Rican Pride Day

ETHOS Requests Soil Testing at Old US Steel Site

MWRD Hears Concerns from ETHOS Regarding the Proposed South Works Project

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