MWRD Board Seeks Information on PFAS-Related Operations

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting –
March 6, 2025

PFAS Toxins (Bio-solids disposal) 
Commissioner Dr. Sharon Waller pulled three items from the consent agenda for public discussion and asked they be considered together. All  are linked to the District’s regular disposal of sewage by-products (biosolids) containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).  
PFAS are commonly known as “forever chemicals.” The three items were:

• Item #17. 25-0118 (deferred from February 20th meeting).
• Staff sought authority to pay Synagro Central, LLC (an Agricultural resource company) $3.8 million to remove, transport, distribute and use air dried solid by-products from the Stickney and Calumet wastewater treatment plants.  
• Item #19. 25-0168. In a similar request staff asked for approval to pay Stewart Spreading, Inc. $29.1 million to remove air dried solid by-products from the Stickney and Calumet wastewater treatment plants.
• Item #18. 25-0166. This item awards $3.8 million to McGill Construction for heavy equipment and operators. The contract includes the use of minority subcontractors. It appears the men and equipment will  load the PFAS-affected biosolids into trucks for transport.

During discussion:

• Commissioner Waller noted the District produces 150,000 dry tons of biosolids each year and she would like to see the MWRD end current practice of land application of sludge products on farm fields. Her constituents are concerned about this issue. She’d like the agency to adopt a policy to reuse water and solids after treatment.  Current practice of selling biosolids for application on farmland meets “evolving” EPA regulations, but change is needed. She requested roll call vote on items 17 and 19.   
• Commissioner Davis agreed the District needs a solution to the biosolids disposal issue and asked when a Black & Veech engineering report commissioned in July 2024 would be available to the Board.  Executive Director Perkovich replied the consulting contract goes through 2026, and that preliminary results might not be available until late 2025. Operations Director John Murray said the Biosolids removal “season” begins in late March and early April, and encouraged the Board to approve the items and allow staff to answer questions later.
• Commissioner Corral-Sepulveda said the Board has been waiting for  Federal direction on how to proceed with this issue—an EPA mandate. It doesn’t appear that’s coming. The District needs a contingency plan, which is the point of the engineering study.  Without information from the study, the Board doesn’t have new options.
• President Steele Directed Mr. Perkovich to transmit to the Board a report on the  information the District currently has on the solids disposal issue.
• After a roll call vote, Items 17 and 19 were passed 8 to 1; Commissioner Waller voted no on each item. Item 18 passed with all commissioners voting yes.

Industrial pollution settlement deferred

• Item #25. 25-0154 The MWRD legal department presented the Board with an Amended Agreed Order of Settlement in a case of Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago v. Electronic Plating Co. 
• Commissioner Davis deferred the item, saying the settlement raises concerns voiced at earlier meetings by several commissioners about the District’s penalty process.  He noted that Electronic Plating was a chronic offender – 27 violations over a decade. Given the District’s cap on penalties, he suggested circuit court as an effective deterrent.    

Executive Director Perkovich to retire April 1

• Item #32. 25-0196. The Board approved without discussion a motion to appoint John Murray as Acting Executive Director.  There was not a formal announcement, but Commissioners mentioned during the meeting that Mr.  Perkovich would retire April 1.

St. Patrick’s Day resolutions and labor recognition:

• The morning’s meeting opened with a 16-minute celebration of the 70th Anniversary of Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and recognition of the Irish heritage of the many labor unions that helped build and maintain the MWRD’s infrastructure.  
• Vice President Flynn introduced James Coyne, business manager of Plumber’s local 130 and Chair of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  Mr. Coyne entertained the Board with the Parade’s history and introduced the 2025 Parade Queen and her court.  The celebrants were piped in and out of the meeting by the Shannon Rovers Pipe Band in full regalia. The Board passed 2 Resolutions related to St. Patrick’s Day, and President Steele introduced more than a dozen leaders of various local unions who were in attendance.

Observer: Laurie Morse                       Meeting length: 2 hours and 23 minutes including executive session.