Water Reclamation Board Passes Amendment to Watershed Management Ordinance

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
May 16, 2019


What did the Board Decide?
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The commissioners passed the Authority to Amend the Watershed Management Ordinance (WMO) that was previously pulled from the May 2, 2019 MWRD Agenda. This Amendment to WMO contains a number of changes, the most significant of which provides for the study of current provisions and potential future amendments to the WMO.   This study is scheduled to begin at the end of 2019 with a target end date of May 2022. The study provides for the following:

1. Pilot study on regional storm water detention and a volume control training program.
2. Impact of watershed release rates on Communities
3. Impact on release rates under existing and future development in Collar Counties on Watershed and MWRD.
4. Impact on volume control and watershed release rates on streams erosions and related water quality.

Other Business:

• The commissioners authorized an increase to the cost estimate for an Order Control System at Two TARP shafts and the decommissioning of the Thorton Transitional Reservoir, Calumet Service Area. This is due to complaints of odor. MWRD will continue to monitor the air quality.

New Business:

• Commissioner Davis requested a status update on the website from the Technology Department. Davis stated that during the recent heavy rain events the website did not adequately communicate to the public about river and other flooding.  It was reported that the public had difficulty finding flooding information on the website.  Davis asked the Technology department to give a status report on the Website improvements as soon as possible.
• Commissioner Shore requested MWRD look into the possibility of setting up cameras at reservoirs which can be monitored during heavy rain events. She requested information concerning the costs and feasibility of completing this project. 

 After adjournment the Commissioners celebrated the 130th anniversary of the MWRD.

Observer - Nancy Marcus                                                          Meeting Length: 2 hours