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

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