Category: Water Quality

MWRD To Advertise to Continue to Analyze Wastewater and Biosolids for PFAs

3/25/2026

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board Meeting
March 19, 2026

All items on the agenda were approved, with 3 items discussed:

Authority to advertise a contract to analyze wastewater and biosolids samples collected from industrial facilities and water reclamation plants for PFAs (forever chemicals) for purposes of monitoring by the Monitoring and Research Dept. Executive Director Murray explained that this is to continue work that is being done, though this will add samples from water reclamation plants. Comm. Waller wanted to make sure that the ultimate report would be shared with the Illinois EPA and the public. Exec. Dir. Murray said he was not opposed to do so with appropriate explanation of results. (Agenda #13, 26-0172)
Authority to issue a 6-month extension to Grand Prairie Water Commission to perform soil borings, wetland studies, and soil sampling on properties owned by the MWRD in the Cal-Sag Channel in Palos Hills and Palos Park as a possible route for a new water transmission line to connect to Chicago’s water system. Exec. Director Murray and General Counsel Morakalis explained that this line would be to furnish water to Joliet and several surrounding communities outside of the MWRD’s service territory. (Agenda #31, 26-0201)
Comm. Garcia asked for a status of the MWRD bond situation in connection with a Report on a Request for Proposal for Professional Underwriting Services for MWRD Bond Sales. Treasurer Steve Lux explained that there is a lot of volatility in the market now and he does not expect to go to the market until August to refinance some existing bonds. Comm. Garcia said he would like to have a future presentation so that all the Commissioners could hear what he, in his role as Finance Chair, has learned from working with Mr. Lux.
Not discussed: authority to purchase 15.82 acres for construction of a Flood Control Project from the Des Plaines River to Glenwood Lane in Maine and Northfield Townships that is expected to benefit 114 single and multi-family structures. Cost for the land is $8.15 M + closing costs. (Agenda #29, 26-0174)

New business: President Steele raised Agenda Item #2 which recognizes March 22 as World Water Day and said that this year’s theme is Water and Gender, highlighting the role that women play in the field and promoting more women in careers in water.

No Executive Session.
Time of Meeting: 40 minutes, including a 5-minute break.

Observer: Priscilla Mims

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MWRD Board approves $27 million contract to upgrade Kirie Water Treatment Plant

2/22/2026

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation Board (MWRD)
Board of Commissioners Meeting
February 5, 2026

Board Action:

Item 13: #26-0074. Authority to award Sollitt/Broadway Joint Venture a contract for electric power distribution and phosphorus removal improvements at Kirie Water Reclamation Plant (KWRP), for a total amount not to exceed $27 million. Commissioner Sharon Waller pulled this item from the agenda for discussion. She asked Executive Director Murray what the public might expect to receive for this $27 million. The KWRP, located in Desplaines, is one of the newer (built 1980) and smaller of the District’s seven treatment plants. Executive Director Murray responded that the KWRP needed extensive electrical upgrades; and biological processes at the plant need to be amended to meet new phosphorous removal requirements. The item was returned to the agenda and approved.
Industrial Waste: Item 2. #IW26-001A. The Board approved without discussion amendments to sections of the MWRD’s Sewage and Waste Control Ordinance that address industrial polluters. The amendments included new regulations requiring certain industrial companies not currently licensed to discharge into the MWRD’s systems to certify annually that they have not done so.The hearing process for industrial polluters was also streamlined, making the Director of Monitoring and Research primary hearing authority, rather than the District’s Executive Director.
Tax abatement:Item 3. Ordinance #O26-00. The Board approved without discussion an Ordinance directing the County Clerk to reduce 2025 property taxes by $10 million for payments on capital improvement bonds that were alternately funded through the District’s Bond and Interest fund, making taxpayer funding redundant.
Projects: Item 16. #26-0073. The Board received a year-end 2025 engineering report on the Addison Creek Channel improvement project. The project, which was scheduled to be complete in August 2026, has experienced delays and cost overruns. The work is now expected to be complete in June of 2027 and was about $1.5 million over budget as of December.
Recreation and Community: Item 17. #26-0075. Commissioners gave permission for Friends of the Chicago River to access District real estate at 25 locations along the North Branch of the Chicago River, North Shore Channel, Main Channel, and Cal-Sag Channel for its annual Chicago River Day cleanup event on May 9, 2026. Annette Anderson, Friends of the Chicago River Program Manager, spoke in support of the permit at the start of the Board meeting.

Information request: Commissioner Sharon Waller asked Executive Director Murray to investigate monetizing phosphorus savings associated with the use of treated wastewater for irrigation at MWRD facilities.

Observer: Laurie Morse Meeting Length: 53 minutes Executive Session: None

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MWRD Approves Improvements at Calumet Treatment Plant

1/28/2026

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
January 22, 2026

Board Action:

The MWRD Board approved item 26-0037, contract # 26-822-31 for $24,255,000 to $29,325,000 for TARP (Tunnel and Reservoir Plan) mechanical equipment improvements at the Calumet Water Treatment Plant, including work on the sewage pump’s suction valves dating from 1985, integrating the auxiliary chillers, and other work. There was some discussion of this item, to clarify its purpose and the expected useful life of the improvements, as it was the largest dollar item on the agenda.
The Board approved item IW 26-001, Amended Sewage and Waste Control Ordinance. Along with minor streamlining and clarification, it brings sections of the ordinance into congruence with USEPA reporting requirements on dental amalgam, streamlines processes for appeals and for serving notice, prohibiting interference with District monitoring activities, and classifying non-discharging categorical industrial users and requiring that they certify annually to the District that they have not discharged anything regulated. There was some discussion of this item, with questions to attorney John Murray on the purpose of the proposed changes, especially the new requirement for self-certification of the new category of industry, with the requirement allowing the District to have a means of contacting these industries and to track if they begin discharging regulated amounts.
Item 26-038 to go to bid for 14-year lease on a 2.5 acre parcel in Lemont for a minimum of $75,000, was approved.
There were no Deferred or Deleted Agenda Items

Stormwater Management

Item 26-0035, a 5-year permit to the U.S. Geological Survey to continue to operate the stream gauge at Summit was approved.

New Business

While the official minutes record no items, there were several items discussed. President Steele invited all to the Black History Month Pan African flag raising on Feb. 2. Commissioner Waller noted that the U.S. EPA will no longer include human health factors in its cost-benefit analyses, and drew attention to several portions of the District’s mission involving protection of health, and Commissioner Flynn seconded these remarks. Commissioner Brady-Davis thanked the Executive Director for having the live-stream of the reservoirs fixed.

Time of the meeting approximately one and a half hours including a five-minute break after the Committee of the Whole. There were no items for Executive Session.

Observer - Deborah Stone

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Security for Fulton County Farm Site

9/25/2025

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
Thursday, September 18, 2025

Board Action:

Item #20, 25-0689 accepted a contract for D & S Private Detective, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $259,999.80 to provide security for Fulton County Prairie Plan site. This site was a strip mine that is now being used to store bio-solids and also for research on phosphorus use. Tours are available for the public to see this site.
Item #22, 25-0693 promotes a 401(a) plan as an investment plan for employees to help with their pension.

Deferred or Deleted Agenda Items

Item #19, 25-0679 for a flood control project on Central Road was deleted.

New Business

Discussion and promotion for the conference WEF Tech that is coming to the McCormick Center. The Water Environment Federation Conference will have people from around the world attend and discuss the future of water and it’s use in our lives. This conference goes from 9/27 to 10/1.
Staff were commended on their drafting HB 2391 to harmonize MWRD’s authority for water reuse with the Illinois EPA.

All Commissioners in Attendance. No Executive Session Meeting Time: 50 minutes

Observer: Peggy Kell

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

9/12/2025

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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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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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MWRD To Advertise to Continue to Analyze Wastewater and Biosolids for PFAs

MWRD Board approves $27 million contract to upgrade Kirie Water Treatment Plant

MWRD Approves Improvements at Calumet Treatment Plant

Security for Fulton County Farm Site

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

MWRD Board Meeting Showcased Pride Month and Puerto Rican Pride Day

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