MWRD FLOW - September 2025

Upcoming Events

MWRD Board of Commissioners September meetings
Thursday, September 4 and 18, 10:30 a.m.

MWRD's 2025 Small Business Summit scheduled for September 9

A must-attend event for small businesses eager to connect with the MWRD, prime contractors and prime consultants across the Chicago area is set for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on on September 9, 2025, at Malcolm X College, 1900 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL.

This is a unique opportunity to gain insight into the MWRD, the types of contracts and projects we service, and strategies for expanding your business once you become certified with us. Register your firm as a vendor to receive invitations for bidding opportunities and stay informed about potential business ventures with the MWRD.

The event will showcase a panel of industry experts, leaders, and organizational decision-makers who bring extensive industry knowledge to address your business needs. You will have the exclusive chance to engage with our department heads to explore the diverse projects and services offered across our departments. Direct access to Primes, Subcontractors, Assist Agencies, and Sister Agencies will create an optimal environment to discover new business opportunities, allowing you to identify where you might excel.

Whether you're an established business looking to broaden your horizon or a budding entrepreneur seeking expert guidance, this is the perfect platform to build new relationships.

Watch a special message from President Kari K. Steele.

Register now to secure your spot and be part of an event that promises to open doors to exciting new opportunities!

Register

Monthly Virtual Tour set for Wednesday, September 17 at 10 a.m.

Monitoring and Research Monthly Seminar set for Friday, September 26 at 10:30 a.m.

"A History of Extreme Rain Events Impacting Chicago."

On Friday, September 26 at 10:30 a.m., W. Scott Lincoln will discuss "A History of Extreme Rain Events Impacting Chicago." Scott is the Senior Service Hydrologist at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Chicago

In person: Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, Lue-Hing R&D Complex, 6001 West Pershing Rd., Cicero, IL. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance by emailing [email protected]or calling 708-588-4264 or 708-588-4059.

Virtual: Go to Seminars and Presentations on September 26 for the link to access the seminar.

For additional information, please email [email protected].

The seminar is eligible for Professional Development Credits/CEUs.

Learn more

MWRD to celebrate Latino Heritage Month with special events

The MWRD Board of Commissioners and staff invite you to celebrate Latino Heritage Month during two special events.

On Oct. 8 at noon, a Business Roundtable will be held at the Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building, 100 E. Erie St., Chicago.

On Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., the 5th annual Stewardship Day will be held at the Cook County Forest Preserves' Possum Hollow Woods in LaGrange Park.

13th Annual Sustainability Summit set for November 13

Save the date for the 13th Annual Sustainability Summit to be held on November 13 from 10 a.m. - noon at the Town of Cicero Community Center, 2250 S. 49th Ave, Cicero, IL.

This annual event is dedicated to learning, collaboration, and action toward a cleaner, greener future. This year's summit will showcase innovative strategies, projects, and partnerships that protect our water resources, reduce flooding, and promote sustainability throughout Cook County. Attendees will hear from leaders in the field, discover inspiring community initiatives, and connect with others who are working to build resilient, healthy neighborhoods.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation and the solutions that are shaping tomorrow.

Register today!

MWRD in the News

Stickney Water Reclamation Plant Open House attracts almost 400

MWRD Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn joined staff in greeting visitors who attended the MWRD's annual open house at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant on August 2.

This event, which attracted 362 people, included facility tours and educational activities for all ages.

Guests learned about the wastewater treatment process, green infrastructure, and careers in water. Oak tree saplings and milkweed seeds were distributed to promote native species, and unwanted pharmaceuticals were collected to help keep waterways clean.

Read more

MWRD leaders participate in Black Women's Expo session

During an interactive session at the Black Women's Expo at McCormick Place on August 3, MWRD President Kari K. Steele led a powerful panel discussion titled "Making Waves, Changing Tides," which was focused on clean water and climate resilience She was joined by Commissioner Yumeka Brown, Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis, and Senior Civil Engineer Lolita Thompson, who each shared insights on sustainability, public service, and the importance of representation in leadership.

Read more

Partners celebrate completion of Fullersburg Woods project

A ribbon-cutting event was held for the Salt Creek Restoration Project at Fullersburg Woods in the DuPage County Forest Preserves on Aug. 19 at the Graue Mill and Museum at 3800 York Road, Oak Brook.

MWRD President Kari K. Steele, Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis, Commissioner Yumeka Brown, Commissioner Sharon Waller, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten and other community leaders cut the ribbon on a project designed to improve water quality and enhance recreational opportunities in Salt Creek.

This project is a partnership between the MWRD, DuPage County Forest Preserves, and the DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup (DRSCW) and honors the history of the Graue Mill and Fullersburg Woods. In addition to removing the 90-year-old Graue Mill dam, the project revitalizes a mile of upstream Salt Creek by stabilizing the stream bank, diversifying habitat for aquatic life and planting native vegetation along the stream.

The MWRD contributed $7 million toward the project, which has a total cost of approximately $9.5 million.

Read more

Cal-Sag Bike and Walking Path Extension Opens

Thanks to the MWRD's donation of land and investment made by Cook County, a new Cal-Sag bike and walking path extension will allow for more recreation, connecting more people to the waterway.

MWRD Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn, Commissioner Beth McElroy Kirkwood, and staff joined Palos Hills Mayor Gerald R. Bennett, city leaders and Cook County officials to cut the ribbon on the new 1.5-mile extension of the Cal-Sag Trail network on Aug. 19. The new trail extension will improve access and connectivity to the Cal-Sag Trail that runs alongside the Cal-Sag Channel and will help trail users access nearby Moraine Valley Community College, Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, the Palos Heights Metra Station and other amenities, transportation hubs, businesses, parks and neighborhoods.

Read more

Village of Glenwood, MWRD celebrate completion of Glenwood Levee

On August 25, President Kari K. Steele, Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn, Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis, Commissioner Yumeka Brown, Commissioner Beth McElroy Kirkwood, Commissioner Eira Corral-Sepúlveda, Glenwood Mayor Toleda Hart and Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller gathered at George Arquilla Park in Glenwood to cut the ribbon on the new Glenwood Levee, a major flood protection project along Thorn Creek.

The 1,250-foot-long levee, with a 12-foot crest and an average height of 7.5 feet, will help protect 29 nearby structures from flooding. The project also included 1,000 feet of new storm sewers and key utility upgrades.

Backed by $3.48 million in funding from the MWRD and a strong partnership with the Village of Glenwood, the levee fulfills a goal first identified in the 2009 Little Calumet River Detailed Watershed Plan. This investment marks a significant step in protecting homes, infrastructure, and the community from future flooding.

Read more

Watch the video

MWRD, city of Markham celebrate completion of green alleys

Officials celebrate the completion of three new green alleys in Markham. Pictured are (L-R): Markham City Administrator Derrick Champion; state Rep. William Davis (30th Dist.); Cook County Commissioner Dr. Kisha McCaskill (5th Dist.); Sen. Napoleon Harris (15th Dist.); MWRD Commissioner Beth McElroy Kirkwood; Markham Mayor Roger A. Agpawa; Markham 3rd Ward Ald. Joseph G Bertrand Jr.; MWRD Commissioner Yumeka Brown; Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis; Markham City Clerk Leslie Trimuel; and MWRD Commissioner Sharon Waller.

On Aug. 28, the MWRD, city of Markham and Cook County celebrated three new green alleys using permeable pavers.

The alleys are located north of West 159th Street and bounded by Sawyer Avenue to the east and Homan Avenue to the west. Approximately 11,700 square feet of impervious area was converted to permeable, creating 90,501 gallons of design retention capacity. The MWRD contributed up to $469,000 toward the project. The total construction cost was estimated at $618,597.

Read more

MWRD issues update on Tunnel and Reservoir Plan

In 1972, the MWRD began work on one of the largest public works projects in U.S. history. Known as the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP) and commonly referred to as the "Deep Tunnel" project, TARP is a system of deep, large diameter tunnels and vast reservoirs designed to reduce flooding, improve water quality in Chicago area waterways and protect Lake Michigan from pollution caused by sewer overflows. TARP is complete and fully operational except for the McCook Reservoir Stage 2. Located in Bedford Park between the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and Des Plaines River, the first stage of McCook Reservoir was completed in 2017 and can hold 3.5 billion gallons of capacity. The second stage currently being excavated will add another 6.5 billion gallons of storage for a total of 10 billion gallons, making it the largest reservoir of its kind. McCook Reservoir serves 3.1 million people living in Chicago and 36 suburban municipalities.

Learn more

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Keep medications out of our water environment

Medications, whether they are prescribed or not, can end up in waterways. This includes pet medications too!

These drugs can pass through our water reclamation plants (WRPs) and enter rivers and streams. This can harm fish, plant life and our waterways. Controlling what goes down the drain is an easy and effective way to protect the environment.

How you can help

You can help keep medications from entering our waterways by disposing of unwanted medicine properly.

• Never flush unused medications or toss expired medicines in the garbage.
• Take unused and expired medications to Cook County Prescription Drug Take Back Network locations.
• For over-the-counter products, monitor your supply. Store them in one spot in your home to avoid accidentally buying extras.

The MWRD is proud to play a role in collecting unwanted medicine and keeping our drains medicines free. Our boxes are located near the entrances at the Stickney, Calumet and O'Brien WRPs and in the lobby of the Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building in Chicago. Do not leave medication outside the box. If a box is locked, please return during hours of operation or visit another location.

MWRD drug collection box locations

What is the key to pollution prevention when it comes to are Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manmade fluorinated compounds that are designed to be stable and have been in commercial use since the 1940s. The stability of the chemicals makes them difficult to degrade which is why they are often called "forever chemicals." PFAS are in commercial, consumer, and industrial products and and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that they are widely present in the environment; nonstick cookware, cosmetics, sunscreens, washing clothes, and fire-fighting foams can introduce PFAS into the environment.

Like other water utilities across the U.S., the MWRD is addressing how best to manage PFAS in the water environment. The MWRD's seven water reclamation plants (WRPs) do not produce nor use PFAS but are passive receivers of these chemicals discharged to local sewers. As a result, wastewater can contain trace amounts of these chemicals from industrial, commercial and household sources. The MWRD's WRPs were not designed to remove these chemicals during the treatment process.

The key to pollution prevention is addressing the source of PFAS.

The MWRD is closely following and proceeding based on the developing science on the potential impacts of PFAS. The MWRD is also working to identify and reduce industrial discharges of PFAS, learning how the discharge from these sources can be reduced and encouraging federal and state regulators to focus on stopping these chemicals at the source. The MWRD's pretreatment program regulates industrial discharges to protect the treatment process and valuable resources the MWRD recovers.

More PFAS information

Permanent Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collections

Dispose of your household chemicals responsibly and recycle your old computers.

• Tuesdays 7 am - Noon
• Thursdays 2 pm - 7 pm
• The first Saturday of every month 8 am - 3 pm

The public may drop them off at the City of Chicago's permanent Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility at 1150 N. North Branch Street (two blocks east of the Kennedy Expressway at Division Street).

Household chemicals and computers often contain hazardous substances, such as lead, mercury, and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) which can contaminate our air, soil and water. Through proper disposal methods or recycling, these hazardous substances are reprocessed and reused in an environmentally-responsible manner.

Coming soon! South Suburban College, 15800 State St., South Holland, will be the site of a new permanent HHW facility opening this fall. Residents will be able to dispose of household chemicals, rechargeable batteries, oil-based paints, solvents, medications, fluorescent light bulbs, antifreeze, motor oil, gasoline, auto fluids, herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, aerosol cans and lawn, pool and hobby chemicals. This facility will be located next to the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) Center where residents can dispose of electronics, polystyrene foam, clothing and textiles, personal healthcare equipment and general household recycling materials. CHaRM has taken in nearly 2.5 million pounds of materials. Read more.

See accepted items

Doing Business with the MWRD

Watch a video on how to submit a responsive bid or proposal.

The MWRD Department of Procurement and Materials Management procures materials and services required for operations in compliance with the MWRD Purchasing Act. The mission of the Diversity Section is to ensure that minority owned (MBE), women owned (WBE), small (SBE), and veteran owned (VBE) business enterprises are given equal opportunities to participate in the MWRD's construction program and professional service contracts in excess of $100,000.

Our procurement process is designed to ensure the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars, so we encourage you to register to become a vendor. Sign up for a weekly email listing new contract announcements by emailing [email protected].

Get started

Please report waterway blockages, suspicious dumping to waterways or sewers, or odors.

Call 800-332-DUMP (3867) or in Spanish 855-323-4801

Learn more

Tips to prepare your home for excess rainwater

Read our "Green Neighbor Guide"

Now is a good time to work on projects that can make your home more resilient to stormwater.

Discounted rain barrels available while supplies last

Discounted rain barrels are available to residents of Cook County through the MWRD website. Rain barrels capture rainwater from your roof for later use. They can help prevent basement backups, street flooding and sewer overflows by keeping rainwater out of the sewer system.

You can use rain barrel water to water your lawn or garden and clean your work boots, tools and bikes.

Rain barrels can hold up to 55 gallons. The overflow opening lets you connect a hose to direct overflow away from your foundation or to connect several rain barrels. Our rain barrels:

• Are made from durable high-density polyethylene.
• Come in four colors (black, blue, terra cotta and gray) and may have different shapes depending on the vendor.
• Include instructions, a leaf and mosquito filter screen, a flexible downspout connector, a spigot/tap, and an overflow hose.
• Free delivery.

Buy a rain barrel

Free oak saplings available

Through October, complimentary red, pin, bur, black or swamp white oak saplings are available at our water reclamation plants on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon through October.

If more than 50 potted saplings are desired, delivery is available, or park districts, residents and municipalities can schedule pick ups.

The saplings come in one gallon pots or can be requested as bare roots in bags of 100. These must be planted within days for premium viability.

Learn more about our Restore the Canopy sapling program

Tour an MWRD facility

Schedule a speaker

Request a community event representative

The MWRD actively engages with communities across Cook County throughout the year, participating in events such as back-to-school fairs, environmental expos, farmers markets, municipal gatherings, career days, and STEM-related activities. Our representatives provide engaging materials and interactive activities designed for all ages, offering insights into our work, areas of responsibility, and practical tips on how to enhance local water quality.

Request community event participation

Extras

Historical Photo of the Month

September 2025 Calendar