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

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.