Category: Water Quality

Water Reclamation Board Continues to Focus on Increasing Efficiency, Fairness, and Best Practices

5/25/2018

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting - May 3, 2018
What did the Board decide?

Authorization for continued participation for 2021-2022 in a voluntary curtailment program (DR)) with Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Letter to the Board from Executive Director David St. Pierre stated “Through voluntary curtailments by the District and other participants, the curtailment providers have been able to defer the need for additional generating capacity to meet the short-lived peak demand. ”The MWRD has participated in this since 1988 and has led to $12.97M in revenue for reducing electricity usage at designated times. One question was whether MWRD would be penalized under this agreement if we fulfilled all commitments made, but other parties do not. The answer was NO. Authorization was approved. (Agenda Item 5 (18-421))
Purchase Order regarding delivery of sodium hydroxide to Olin Corp. Question was whether MWRD was exploring use of other chemicals, perhaps magnesium for Chicago River to meet permit requirements for removing phosphorus from the Chicago River. Three million pounds of phosphorus have bee removed from the Chicago River. The concern relating to future costs arose because of an unexpected 50% increase in cost of chemicals. St. Pierre stated he would not offer an estimate for future costs of the project. Purchase order was approved. (Agenda Item 8 (18-0397))
Implementation of Energy Efficiency Projects - Commissioner Shore explained there is successive series of contracts to complete these efficiency projects through Public Building Commission. One questions was whether the MWRD could have managed these projects. St. Pierre stated the Board did not direct movement in that direction though the department personnel could have done it. Also, grants have been received from the state, rebates have been received from Nicor and ComEd. Projects were approved. (Agenda Item 15 (18-0411))
Paid Parental Leave for non-represented employees was approved without discussion. (Agenda Item 29)

Observed by: Carolyn Cosentino Meeting Length: 40 min.

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MWRD and Friends of the Chicago River Partner to Create "Overflow Action Days"

3/19/2017

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board Meeting - March 16, 2017

The meeting began with a packed house, standing room only, and a party atmosphere complete with refreshments, due to the fact that no less than 6 people and groups were being honored and brought large contingencies of supporters with them. Honorees included retiring ABC Reporter Charles Thomas and individuals/groups working on clean water initiatives. Excitement was definitely in the air.

Highlights from the Meeting:

Friends of the Chicago River was honored for their new working relationship with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MRWD). Out of this relationship has come a new concept called “Overflow Action Days”. Cook County sewers fall into the “combined” sewer type. This means that both rainwater runoff and sewage flow into the same system. When rainfall is fast and furious this combined system has to overflow the excess water into Lake Michigan untreated. The Deep Tunnel project has been able to handle a good amount, but not all, of this overflow. The rest is up to the citizens of Cook County. Much like Ozone Action Days, Overflow Action Days will alert the citizens to be extra vigilant in their conservation of water.They will be alerted to take shorter showers, flush a little less, put off that laundry for a day or two, etc.
India with its 1.2 billion people suffers from dirty water and water borne diseases. Engineers from that nation reached a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commissioners of MWRD and were honored for this work. They came to Chicago to work with our engineers in water treatment. They said that “MWRD is the best in the world at solving water pollution problems and have the history to prove it.” This same group came to learn about how Brookfield Zoo handles its animal waste because they have a reputation for being excellent in this area.

After the first recess, the Committee of the Whole came back to tackle some issues from the Finance Committee. These issues had to do with consulting firm costs and awards for good budgeting. This part took a good deal of time.( I do not think the issue of committees versus the whole board has been resolved. I was confused by the recesses and reconvening of what seemed to be the same group of people each time.)

The Water Treatment Plant at Stickny,Illinois is the largest water treatment plant in the world. It is currently recovering the most phosphorus also. The process is economical, successful, and reliable, according to Director St. Pierre. Comm. Avila questioned the making of fertilizer pellets from the recovery of this material. Companies are currently bidding for these pellets. Comm. Durkin had questions about the management of the plant. Comm. Shore had questions about the PH build up in the pumps. The director answered all of the questions with optimism and said that all of their issues would be resolved soon. He expects this plant to collect 10,000 tons of phosphorus each year. This recovery will keep all of our waterways cleaner.
Bucket Day: - The MWRD sells compost to the public and to landscaping companies. About 50,000 tons of compost are for sale most years. Bucket Day will be sometime in May when the public can go to certain locations to buy this compost. Comm. Shore asked about sales tax. (Legal will look into that). Comm. Morita and Comm. Steele asked to have copies of the ads placed to alert the public about the date and locations. The Director stated that he wanted a different name for this event. He was not crazy about the name “Bucket Day”.

Yet another recess and reconvening was called at this point. Again the same group of people seemed to be coming back. This time it was called the “Board of Commissioners” meeting.

Length of Meeting - The meeting was over 2 hours and counting when the observer had to leave due to another appointment.

Observer - Jan Goldberg

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Money Decisions and Deferrals Produce Good Board Discussion

4/8/2016

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board Meeting - March 17, 2016

Significant Topics Discussed:
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) will provide an $180,000 grant to a new non-profit being “birthed” in Chicago called “Current”. World Business Chicago is launching this water technology research center that will focus on local water issues. The MWRD staff and Debra Shore among other commissioners believes this technology center has the potential to be a great resource and will monitor Current’s value over the next two years.

Board Members asked the staff to provide new real estate appraisal guidelines and to get an updated appraisal for a vacant property that is currently being rented at an annual rate of 10% of its 2012 appraised value. The importance of this request reflects the board’s interest in its fiduciary responsibilities to MWRD and the citizens that underwrite the work of its operations.

A citizen during the public comment period called for an Independent Inspector General for the MWRD. The League of Women Voters of Cook County strongly supports the creation of this office.

Significant Topic Removed from Agenda:
Deleted from the agenda was a request by Executive Director, David St. Pierre to start the statutory procedures to sell the MWRD’s lobby and plaza areas of its 101-11 East Erie Street building. The board was very reluctant to give approval without investigating long-term rental or other options. A hotel is being built adjacent to the MWRD building and its owners want to buy the current lobby in order to facilitate getting a liquor license to serve alcohol on the lower level of its hotel.

Observer - Diane Edmundson

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MWRD Executive Director supports funding for water quality research

12/14/2015

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Maintenance Committee In-Service, Thursday November 19, 2015

Steve McCracken, Watershed Director of the DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup, gave a presentation on water quality improvement. 37 utilities in Cook and DuPage counties make up the Workgroup. Much of the Salt Creek watershed and the DuPage River watershed is in DuPage county.

The group is concerned that while the EPA is requiring that towns limit chloride in the water, the actual water quality is not improving. The group is working to get better water quality, while using tax dollars more efficiently. This has involved getting rid of several dams on the DuPage River. They are using an Index of Bio-integrity to measure water quality.

MWRD Executive Director David St. Pierre said that the MWRD would be contributing to this work at the level of $2 million. Because much of the land area is not actually in Cook County, the District's contribution must be limited. He deems it an important project and recommends that the MWRD support it.

Submitted by Georgia Gebhardt

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Water Reclamation Board Continues to Focus on Increasing Efficiency, Fairness, and Best Practices

MWRD and Friends of the Chicago River Partner to Create "Overflow Action Days"

Money Decisions and Deferrals Produce Good Board Discussion

MWRD Executive Director supports funding for water quality research

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