Calumet Partnership Council celebrated at MWRD Board of Commissioners meeting for commitment to community, collaboration and environmental justice

October 15, 2024

The Board of Commissioners at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) saluted a first-of-its-kind council for their advocacy connecting the MWRD to the surrounding community it serves at its water reclamation plants (WRP). Over the past two years the MWRD's Calumet Community Partnership Council (CPC) engaged in meaningful discussions surrounding several critical policy concerns, such as improving water quality and enhancing flood management. The success of this initial CPC has led the MWRD to form a similar CPC for its Stickney WRP, set to launch this month.

(Front, L-R): MWRD Commissioner Yumeka Brown, MWRD Principal Civil Engineer Lolita Thompson, Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn, CPC member Deloris Lucas, President Kari K. Steele, CPC member Saul Arambula, CPC member Tom Shepherd, Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis, and MWRD Public and Intergovernmental Affairs Officer Allison Fore. (Back L-R): CPC member Damon Nelson, CPC member Brendon Troutman, MWRD Human Resources Manager Edward Coleman, MWRD Commissioner Eira L. Corral Sepúlveda, Commissioner Dan Pogorzelski, Commissioner Cam Davis, Commissioner Mariyana Spyropoulos, Chairman of Finance Marcelino Garcia and CPC member Mike Fraider.

"We thank the members of the Calumet Community Partnership Council for their commitment these last two years, working together to protect our environment and strengthen our presence in the many communities serviced by our Calumet Water Reclamation Plant," said MWRD President Kari K. Steele.

Among the proposed actions the Council supported were increased green infrastructure opportunities in environmental justice (EJ) neighborhoods, recognizing the unique challenges that underserved communities susceptible to flooding can face. CPC members learned firsthand how implementing solutions like rain gardens and permeable pavements can help absorb stormwater and reduce flooding when one CPC member's flood reduction application was chosen by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) for a flood mitigation project at a Chicago Public School during an international conference on water hosted by WEF in 2023. The resulting project consisted of a rain garden that has a design retention capacity of 448,000 gallons of stormwater per year.

The CPC was an initiative sparked by the MWRD's Strategic Plan 2021-2025. The goal was to position the MWRD as a critical community asset and to ensure that the MWRD is a responsible neighbor and inclusive business partner.

The CPC embraced the MWRD's concept of Overflow Action Day alerts, in which residents and business owners are encouraged to conserve water on rainy days to provide more capacity in local sewers. Members were encouraged to share the signup information as well as these important notifications with their families, friends, organizations and neighbors. This grassroots approach aims to enhance community awareness and preparedness during heavy rainfall events, ultimately reducing the impact of combined sewer overflows on local waterways.

To address these pressing issues collaboratively, the CPC emphasized the importance of fostering partnerships among local stakeholders, including government agencies, community organizations, and residents. An Earth Day stewardship event held at Aldridge Elementary School across the street from the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant on April 22 marked the first of these collaborative efforts, bringing together diverse groups to participate in hands-on activities that directly benefitted students, the community and the environment.

Although the Calumet CPC will no longer meet regularly, MWRD staff will continue to maintain communication with the members. This ongoing engagement will support future collaborative activities and initiatives, reinforcing the significance of community involvement in tackling environmental challenges in the Calumet region. By cultivating these connections, members of the CPC and staff aim to build a resilient community that prioritizes sustainable practices and water resource management.

"It has been an honor to serve and to be a part of the Calumet Community Partnership Council with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District for these past two years," said member Tom Shepherd. "MWRD has shown, by establishing the Council, its dedication to progress regarding wastewater issues as well as with their transparency in governance. I'm proud of our achievements and glad to have contributed in some way."

MWRD Chairman Marcelino Garcia helped initiate the CPC through his work in developing goals for the Strategic Plan, along with MWRD staff, commissioners and public input.

"I want to commend the members of the Calumet Community Partnership Council and our staff who coordinated the work of the CPC and the many outings and gatherings over the last two years," said Chairman Garcia. "Together with the CPC's participation and open lines of communication, we can be a responsive neighbor making a positive impact on the communities we serve."

In operation since 1922, the Calumet WRP serves nearly 1 million people living in the far South Side of Chicago and 48 surrounding south suburbs. On the average day, the Calumet WRP treats about 350 million gallons of water, transforming it into clean water to be released back to the environment in the Little Calumet River.

See snapshots from the MWRD Calumet Community Partnership Council 2022-2024: