Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

The MWRD will hold its Board of Commissioners meeting in person at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2026. Public comment may be made at the Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building, 100 East Erie Street, Chicago, during the Public Comment period.

Members of the public that are unable to attend meetings in-person are encouraged to participate by viewing the proceedings via live stream at https://mwrd.legistar.com/calendar.aspx. Electronic comments will not be read during the meeting but will be provided to the Board. If you would like to view the live stream of the meeting, click the “In Progress” link under the Video Column. The “In Progress” link will only be active when there is a meeting in session. Closed captioning is available. Please note the ending time of this meeting is an estimate only.

https://mwrd.org/news/mwrd-board-commissioners-meet-thursday-june-4-1030-am

MWRD Board of Commissioners:
MWRD.org/BOC

📷 Officials viewing a new crane that was used for hauling coal at the MWRD's 39th Street Pumping Station on July 19, 1921.

📽 Learn about the work of the on our YouTube channel ⬇️
https://youtu.be/__yXMrBYek4
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Commissioners and staff at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) welcomed almost 200 visitors to the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant to tour and learn more about the critical work done to protect the region’s water environment.

Built in 1922, the Calumet facility is the MWRD’s first modern comprehensive treatment plant, treating up to 430 million gallons per day for about 1 million people living on the Far South Side of Chicago and 48 surrounding south suburbs. This was the third of three open houses the MWRD hosted this May at its water reclamation plants, giving all ages of visitors a tour, presentations and activities that educated them on the wide variety of innovation and sustainable practices used to protect and improve area water resources.

Nearly 1,000 visitors of all ages, including almost 200 at the Calumet WRP, took home a new understanding and appreciation for the work of the MWRD at its three open houses and tours

Calumet serves a 300-square-mile area of residents and businesses in the southern portion of Cook County. The MWRD’s 184 miles of intercepting sewers connect local sewers to the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant. After treating the region’s wastewater and converting it into clean water, the water flows downstream west to the Little Calumet River before reaching the Cal-Sag Channel, which the MWRD constructed in 1922 to coincide with the Calumet facility.

The tour and interactive programming with scientists, engineers and MWRD partners allowed all ages to go behind the scenes and learn how the MWRD transforms wastewater into clean water to protect the region’s environment.

Guests took home free oak tree saplings, milkweed and native wildflower seeds to support stormwater management and the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly and other pollinators. Guests also dropped off unwanted medicine as part of the MWRD’s collection campaign to keep pharmaceuticals out of area water resources.

Learn more at MWRD.org/News:
https://mwrd.org/news/calumet-open-house-offers-public-glimpse-mwrds-work-protect-regions-water-environment-historic-facility

The MWRD was proud to join EcoFest at Welles Park on Saturday, May 30, a family-friendly celebration of sustainability and environmental action.

MWRD staff and staff from the Office of MWRD Chairman of Finance Commissioner Marcelino Garcia engaged with visitors stopping by to pick up native wildflower and milkweed seed packets and learn about MWRD programs and career opportunities.

Congressman Mike Quigley stopped by to visit us along with many staff and family from the MWRD!

Thank you to everyone who came out to learn, connect and help build a more sustainable Chicago. Thanks to Alderman Matt Martin - 47th Ward for inviting us!

Audio and video is from a live performance at the event.

📷 A view to the northwest of the Stephen Street bridge over the Des Plaines River in Lemont, Illinois, on June 11, 1924.

📽 Learn about the work of the on our YouTube channel ⬇️
https://youtu.be/__yXMrBYek4
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📷 A view to the west showing part of the recently completed Chicago Harbor lock and Chicago River Controlling Works (CRCW) on September 1, 1939. The MWRD built CRCW and the Chicago Harbor Lock between 1936 and 1938, and operated the lock until 1984 when the US Army Corps of Engineers took over operations. The MWRD continues to operate the CRCW sluice gates. Learn more: https://mwrd.org/what-we-do/reducing-flooding/chicago-area-waterway-system-caws

Our Calumet Water Reclamation Plant Open House is underway! Visit us until 3 p.m. at 400 E. 130th Street, Chicago.

📷 A view of work on the east abutment for a new bridge at 12th Street on the South Branch of the Chicago River on April 25, 1919.

📽 Learn about the work of the on our YouTube channel ⬇️
https://youtu.be/__yXMrBYek4
🏗💧💩🧪🧫🔬🌊🌞