About MWRD

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago collects and treats wastewater for more than five million people and the industrial equivalent of another 4.5 million people in approximately 90% Cook County including the city of Chicago and 125 suburban municipalities. The MWRD derives the majority of funding from real-estate and property taxes provided by the residents of the service area. The MWRD treats about 1.4 billion gallons of wastewater each day. The District also participates in a program called the National Biosolids Partnership program which contributes substitutes to fertilizers for area farmers, park districts and golf courses.

The MWRD also operates the Deep Tunnel Project to collect and treat sewer overflows and provides storm water management for all of Cook County. The District’s 2008 budget is approximately $1.4billion.

The District operates six water reclamation plants, including the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, which is the largest water treatment plant in the world. The MWRD also operates the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, the Lockport Power House and the Mainstream Pumping Station in Hodgkins. Some information restated from the September 2008 issue of Water & Wastes Digest