MWRD to unveil accessibility improvements along the Cal-Sag Channel in Blue Island

Ribbon cutting event unveils gateway ramp to SEPA station

WHO: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), City of Blue Island, Progress Center for Independent Living

WHAT: The MWRD, City of Blue Island, Blue Island Disability Committee, Progress Center for Independent Living, and area residents will celebrate accessibility improvements.

WHERE: Sidestream Elevated Pool Aeration (SEPA) Station #3, 2250 Fulton St. in Blue Island, Ill. 60406

WHEN: Friday, May 8, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago's (MWRD) commissioners and staff will be joined by Blue Island Mayor Fred Bilotto, city officials, the Blue Island Disability Committee, the Progress Center for Independent Living and area partners to unveil accessibility improvements at the MWRD's Sidestream Elevated Pool Aeration (SEPA) Station #3.

A new concrete ramp and segmented retaining wall now provide an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant pathway for visitors of all ages and abilities. Braille signage was also added to assist visually impaired visitors.

SEPA #3 has long been a popular destination for residents, offering waterfalls, picnic areas, recreational space, birding and educational opportunities focused on water quality. The SEPA station aerates water to improve the quality of the Cal-Sag Channel and support aquatic life, while creating a popular meeting place and recreation area along the channel.

The MWRD operates five SEPA stations along the Cal-Sag Channel. From April through October, these stations collectively pump up to 1.3 billion gallons of water per day, adding approximately 25 tons of oxygen to the Chicago Area Waterway System. At each station, the Cal-Sag Channel's flow is elevated as much as 17 feet into shallow pools, where it then cascades over a series of waterfalls.