Water Board Examines Industrial Water Pollution Guidelines and Considers Green Space Water Retention Projects

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting - November 2, 2017
The Industrial Waste and Water Pollution Committee Report 

• Reports indicate that the Bubbly Creek cleanup is almost complete and that there is still no answer explaining the origin of that spill.
• Questions about annual samplings and inspections of all industrial operations within Cook County were asked.  Procedures were explained to The Board for those not in compliance.  They will first receive a deficiency report.  After 45 days of noncompliance they will receive a cease and desist order.  More frequent samplings and inspections will be required.  
  
• The following categories cause industry to be sited: dangerous discharge, inadequate pre-treatment, right of access refusal, spill containment procedures, and bypassing sampling stations.  One industry not in compliance is in Stickney where dangerous discharge was sampled. 26 other industries were not in full compliance and must report every 6 months.  They will also be subject to more frequent inspections and sampling.
  
• The board requested a list of repeat offenders to be delivered to them in the near future.

Storm Water Management Committee Report

• Explanation was given for determination of future green projects.  Those in the queue from last year remain in consideration while new projects will be considered with a continued interest to serve all areas of Cook County and in the amount of storm water that will be captured in each project. Three parks in the Garfield Park area are currently being considered.  
• Onsite annual inspections of all former projects are completed including photos and written evaluations.  Training on upkeep is given to those communities where projects receive less than satisfactory evaluations.  This program has been very successful.
  
• The Board is discussing involvement of suburban schools in upkeep of these green spaces similar to what they have currently agreed upon with the city schools.

Other Items of Interest:

• Before authorization was given to exercise an option extending an agreement with two environmental attribute service companies, the Board asked several questions.  Multiple bidders were considered and reviewed but the decision was made to extend the current contracts. It seems the best offer with a percentage structure of 90% for the district and 10% for the companies.  Nothing in the agreements were amended.  [Basically, these are companies that are capturing energy produced by the District and used by the District].
  
• The board complimented David St. Pierre, MWRD Executive director, on the District’s good relationship with contracted unions.   New contracts with those unions will be signed today.
  

Observer - Pat Lind.                                                                 Meeting Length: 95 minutes