Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

MWRD Board of Commissioners meeting graphic. Commissioners: Kari K. Steele (President), Patricia Theresa Flynn (Vice President), Marcelino Garcia (Chairman of Finance), Precious Brady-Davis, Yumeka Brown, Cameron Davis, Beth McElroy Kirkwood, Eira L. Corral Sepulveda, Sharon Waller. The background features dark and light blue abstract shapes.

The #MWRD will hold its Board of Commissioners meeting in person at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 100 East Erie Street, #Chicago.

Live stream: https://ow.ly/6q1Y50Yoy6N.

📰 https://ow.ly/zZMP50Yoy6M

MWRD Board of Commissioners: https://ow.ly/hWkz50Yoy6L

A black-and-white historical photograph showing the early construction of the O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant in Skokie, Illinois, taken on July 17, 1924. The image features large concrete basins and structural frameworks, with rebar and construction materials scattered throughout the site. Dirt piles and rail tracks are visible in the background, highlighting the scale of the project.

📷 Construction of the O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant in Skokie on July 17, 1924.

🏠 Join us on Saturday, May 2, for the O’Brien Open House from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. There will be tours and interactive activities for all ages. https://mwrd.org/events/mwrd-open-house-and-tour

📣 Check out the March 2026 edition of #FLOW for the latest news and event information from the MWRD.

FLOW: For the Love of Water 🌊
mwrd.org/news/mwrd-fl...

Sign up to keep up to date with the latest news and resources related to the #MWRD.
📲 mwrd.org/form/join-our-email-list

#CookCounty

Waves of Innovation: 100 Years of Black Excellence in STEM and water celebrated at the MWRD

The #MWRD welcomed Dr. Kelly Easterly, managing director of #STEM at Distinctive Schools, for a program featuring #music by singer Zion Ali.

▶️ YouTube.com/@MWRDGC

🌊 mwrd.org/news/waves-i...

A close-up microscopic image showing a single-celled organism with a long, oval shape and thin hair-like projections extending from its body. The organism appears translucent. The background is a soft green blur, highlighting the details of the microorganism.

📷 The suctorian disophyra (left) is a predator of the wastewater microorganism world. They remove suspended organic matter and clarify water by feeding on free-swimming protozoans, using little darts to immobilize their prey. Join us March 10: https://mwrd.org/education/tours/virtual-tours

Honoring the life of General Casimir Pulaski, a Polish-born Revolutionary War hero and father of the American cavalry who fought for freedom and justice. The image features a historical illustration of Pulaski with a red background. Text includes the names of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Board of Commissioners and the district’s seal in the lower left corner.

Honoring Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, the “Father of the American Cavalry,” on Casimir Pulaski Day. His bravery helped shape our nation’s history. 🇺🇸🇵🇱

#CasimirPulaskiDay #PulaskiDay #MWRD #CookCounty #Chicago

A black-and-white historical photograph taken on November 24, 1908, shows an industrial riverside scene in Chicago. The image features the South Branch of the Chicago River with a docked steamship on the left, surrounded by large brick buildings. In the foreground, there is a yard filled with pipes, valves, and other industrial materials. The area is bordered by a wooden fence, and a small building stands near the water. Smoke rises from the ship and buildings, indicating active industry.

📷 A view to the north from the Harrison Street bridge showing the South Branch of the Chicago River on November 24, 1908.

📣 Learn how the #MWRD protects public health and the environment on our March 10 virtual tour. Register: https://mwrd.org/education/tours/virtual-tours

A black-and-white historical photo taken on November 13, 1902, shows a horse-drawn carriage crossing a damaged wooden bridge. Two people sit in the carriage, and there are stacks of lumber and a railroad car in the background. The bridge surface is uneven, with broken boards and scattered bricks in the foreground. Smoke or fog is visible in the distance.

📷 A view to the east showing conditions of the northern approach to the Loomis Street bridge over the South Branch of the Chicago River on November 13, 1902.

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

Black and white historical photograph showing the construction of a large concrete structure with extensive steel rebar and wooden formwork. Several workers are visible in the background, and the site appears is outdoors with open land and some scaffolding. The date "May 7, 1927" is written in the lower left corner.

📷 Construction of Imhoff tanks at the MWRD's West Side Sewage Treatment Works, now part of the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, on May 7, 1927.

🏠 Join us on Saturday, May 16, for the Stickney Open House from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Learn more: https://mwrd.org/events/mwrd-open-house-and-tour-0

Two people paddle green kayaks on the Chicago River, with a city skyline and tall buildings in the background. The MWRD's Centennial Fountain sprays a large arc of water across the river. At the top right, a blue and white box reads “JOIN OUR TEAM!” At the bottom, text reads “MWRD.ORG/CAREERS” with icons for Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

📣 We are accepting applications for “Senior Attorney” until March 13, 2026. Apply to join a leading organization committed to protecting the environment in #CookCounty ⬇️
https://jobapscloud.com/mwrd/

➡️ Learn more about MWRD careers: https://mwrd.org/careers

#mwrd #careers #jobs

A group of people from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and U.S. EPA Region 5 pose together indoors. The image includes a text overlay describing the visit and partnership between MWRD and EPA Region 5 at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant. From L to R: Director of USEPA Region 5 External Communications Office Jeff Kelley, MWRD Engineer of Treatment Plant Operations Joe Cummings, MWRD Deputy Director of Maintenance and Operations Ed Staudacher, USEPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel, MWRD Executive Director John Murray, MWRD President Kari K. Steele, MWRD Deputy Director of Monitoring and Research Jennifer Wasik, USEPA Deputy Regional Administrator Cheryl Newton and USEPA News Media and Intergovernmental Relations Manager Rachel Linduska meet at Stickney Water Reclamation Plant.

Top: USEPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel (from left), and MWRD President Kari K. Steele stand side by side in a meeting room, wearing business attire. Bottom: MWRD Engineer of Treatment Plant Operations Joe Cummings displays the fertilizer pellets that the MWRD recovers at its nutrient recovery facility to USEPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel (from left), MWRD President Kari K. Steele and USEPA Deputy Regional Administrator Cheryl Newton. By removing phosphorus from the water and returning it to farmers and other agricultural producers, the Stickney facility promotes resource recovery and protects downstream water quality from excess nutrients. Some are wearing winter coats and one has an EPA-branded hat.

MWRD President Kari K. Steele welcomed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 Administrator Anne Vogel, and staff for a tour of the #MWRD’s Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, one of the largest wastewater treatment facilities in the world.

➡️ https://ow.ly/pPlg50YmWT4

#GreatLakes

Historic black-and-white photo showing a construction site for sewer connection work in south Chicago, dated September 8, 1925. Several workers stand and work among large wooden beams, pipes, and piles of dirt. Construction equipment and building materials are scattered around the site, with a brick building visible in the background.

📷 A view from nearby railroad tracks showing the site for sewer connection work in south Chicago at the intersection of 95th Street and Baltimore Avenue on September 8, 1925.

📣 Join our virtual tour on Tuesday, March 10, from 2-3:15 p.m. ⬇️
https://mwrd.org/education/tours/virtual-tours

A black-and-white historical photograph shows a construction site with a man standing beside a large steam-powered hoist and winch. Several wooden barrels and coiled cables are scattered on the ground nearby. Stacks of lumber and industrial buildings are visible in the background, along with utility poles and wires. The scene captures early 20th-century bridge construction activity.

📷 A view from a point north of the construction site for a bridge at Canal Street on May 29, 1902.

📣 Join our virtual tour on Tuesday, March 10, from 2-3:15 p.m. and learn how the #MWRD protects the environment ⬇️
https://mwrd.org/education/tours/virtual-tours
🏗💧💩🧪🧫🔬🌊🌞

Invitation to Bid from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Contract Number: 26-659-12. Project: Agricultural Management, Agricultural Fieldside Mowing, and Fence Installation and Removal at Fulton County, Illinois (Re-Bid). Bid Opening: March 17, 2026, at 11:00 AM. For details, visit mwrd.app/Cntrctann. Blue background with a digital dollar sign and the MWRD seal.

📣 Review the latest invitation to bid on MWRD contracts

➡️ Agricultural Management, Agricultural Fieldside Mowing, and Fence Installation and Removal at Fulton County, Illinois (Re-Bid)
https://ow.ly/XONH50YlWjw

➡️ https://ow.ly/Fqe550YlWjt

#MWRD #CookCounty #Chicago #opportunity #contracts

Black and white historical photo showing a large excavation site for the Lawrence Avenue conduit during construction of the North Branch Pumping Station on April 20, 1928. A crane is positioned on the edge of the pit, and several workers are visible. In the background, there are apartment buildings and bare trees. The ground is muddy with pools of water at the bottom of the excavation.

📷 Excavation for the connection to the Lawrence Avenue conduit during construction of the North Branch Pumping Station on April 20, 1928.

📣 Join our virtual tour on March 10 from 2-3:15 p.m. and learn how the #MWRD protects the environment ⬇️
https://mwrd.org/education/tours/virtual-tours

A black-and-white historical photograph taken on May 9, 1908, shows a steam shovel excavating earth for the North Shore Channel near Lake Michigan. The steam shovel emits thick smoke as it loads soil onto train cars on a set of tracks. Several workers and onlookers, dressed in early 20th-century attire, stand around the construction site and on a wooden bridge in the background. The scene captures the scale and activity of the channel’s construction.

📷 A steam shovel in action during excavation for the North Shore Channel near Lake Michigan on May 9, 1908.

📣 Join our virtual tour on Tuesday, March 10, from 2-3:15 p.m. and learn how the #MWRD protects #LakeMichigan ⬇️
https://mwrd.org/education/tours/virtual-tours
🏗💧💩🧪🧫🔬🌊🌞

Invitation to Bid graphic for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Contract Number: 26-972-11. Bid is for furnishing and delivering tires for heavy equipment to the Stickney Service Area. Bid opening is March 10, 2026, at 11:00 AM. Includes MWRD seal and a large digital dollar sign. Website link at the bottom: mwrd.app/Cntrctann. Blue background with white and yellow background with blue text.

📣 Review the latest invitation to bid on MWRD contracts

➡️ Furnishing & Delivering Tires for Heavy Equipment to the Stickney Service Area
https://mwrd.app/Cntrctann/

➡️ https://mwrd.org/doing-business/procurement-and-materials-management

#MWRD #CookCounty #Chicago #opportunity #contracts

National Engineers Week resolution from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, dated February 19, 2026. The document highlights the importance of engineering, public works, and STEM education, and recognizes the District’s contributions to environmental protection. It lists commissioners’ names and emphasizes the significance of National Engineers Week, celebrated February 22–28, 2026.

📜 National Engineers Week, founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, is observed in recognition of George Washington's engineering innovations & birthday.

✒️ MWRD Board of Commissioners: MWRD.org/BOC

#ACECEWeek2026 #EWeek2026 #ACEC #Chicago #CookCounty

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Monitoring & Research Seminar graphic. Title: "Digester Gas Upgrades: A Case Study from South Bend." Features guest speakers from TYLin: Michael A. Debnar, Catharine (Katie) M. Richardson, and Joseph Dinkel. Event date: February 27, 10:30–11:30 AM, at 6001 W. Pershing, Cicero. Attendees can join in person or virtually. Contact information and eligibility for professional development credits/CEUs are provided. Background image shows a wastewater treatment facility.

📣 Join us for the MWRD Monitoring & #Research Seminar on Friday, Feb. 27 at 10:30 a.m.

🌊 Digester Gas Upgrades: A Case Study from #SouthBend

Guest speakers from TYLin tylin.com

Attend in person or virtually
Details: https://mwrd.org/events/monitoring-and-research-seminar-24

#MWRD #Chicago

Black and white photo taken on December 9, 1925, showing several workers repairing a street at Prairie Avenue between 115th and 116th Streets in Chicago. A dump truck is parked on the road, and workers are using shovels and wheelbarrows to move debris. The street appears muddy, and a building labeled "Hastings Express Co. Stables" is visible in the background. Residential buildings and a streetlamp are also present.

📷 A view to the northeast at Prairie Avenue between 115th and 116th Streets in Chicago on December 9, 1925.

📣 Join our virtual tour on Tuesday, March 10, from 2-3:15 p.m. and learn how the #MWRD protects public health ⬇️
https://mwrd.org/education/tours/virtual-tours

A black-and-white historical photograph of the South Branch of the Chicago River taken on February 14, 1902. Industrial buildings with signs, including "Adams Express Company," line the snowy riverbank. Smoke rises from several chimneys in the background. A barge is docked along the wooden pier, and patches of ice float on the river’s reflective surface. The scene captures early 20th-century Chicago industry and winter conditions.

📷 The South Branch of the Chicago River, looking west from an area north of the Adams Street bridge, on February 14, 1902.

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

Celebrating #EngineersWeek 2026! 🌟 MWRD #engineers help transform the future of water & our communities every day. Join us in recognizing their dedication to innovation & sustainability. Visit #MWRD Career Spotlight on YouTube to view our engineers at work:
https://www.youtube.com/@mwrdgc

#Chicago

A black-and-white historical photograph showing a group of construction workers inside a tunnel. The workers are wearing heavy, dirt-covered clothing and boots, standing among piles of earth and timber supports. Overhead, exposed light bulbs illuminate the scene, highlighting the rough, industrial environment. The image is dated January 20, 1930, and captures the challenging conditions of early sewer construction.

📷 Construction of a section of the West Side Sewer on January 1, 1930.

📣 Join our virtual tour on Tuesday, March 10, from 2-3:15 p.m. and learn how the #MWRD protects the environment by treating #wastewater for Chicago and 128 suburban communities ⬇️
https://mwrd.org/education/tours/virtual-tours

Aerial view of downtown Chicago with skyscrapers, Lake Michigan, and dozens of sailboats docked in the water. In the center, a large white and blue box reads "Join Our Team!" At the bottom, the text "MWRD.org/Careers" is displayed, along with icons for Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky, YouTube, and LinkedIn. The image promotes career opportunities at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.

📣 The #MWRD is accepting applications until March 6, 2026 for “Associate Civil Engineer” & "Senior Electrical Engineer"

Apply to join a leading organization committed to protecting the environment in #CookCounty ➡️ https://jobapscloud.com/mwrd/

➡️ Learn more: https://mwrd.org/careers
#engineer #jobs

Attention electrical engineers! The MWRD is accepting applications for “Senior Electrical Engineer” until March 6, 2026. Apply to join a leading organization committed to protecting the environment in Cook County. 🌊 https://jobapscloud.com/mwrd/

➡️ https://mwrd.org/careers

Historic black and white photo of a construction site at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant in 1926. The image shows rows of concrete slabs and trenches in the foreground, with construction equipment and materials nearby. In the background, there is a large industrial building with a smokestack and a train emitting smoke. The scene depicts the early development of the plant’s drying beds.

📷 Construction of new drying beds at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant on August 30, 1926.

🗓️ Save the Date of May 30 for the Calumet WRP Open House and Tours ⬇️
https://mwrd.org/events/mwrd-open-house-and-tour-1

📜 On Feb. 19, the #MWRD Board of Commissioners issued a memorial resolution in honor of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.

📜 He was a towering figure in American history who dedicated his life to the pursuit of civil rights, social justice, and equality for all…

MWRD Board of Commissioners: MWRD.org/BOC

Black and white historical photograph showing the interior of the 95th Street Pumping Station in Chicago, taken on July 23, 1925. The image features two large industrial exciters with visible wiring and mechanical components, set on sturdy bases. The background includes brick walls, pipes, and additional machinery, illustrating the early 20th-century engineering used in water reclamation infrastructure.

Historical Photo of the Day: Interior view showing two of the exciters for the 95th Street Pumping station located on Baltimore Avenue just south of 95th Street in Chicago on July 23, 1925. Learn about the work of the #MWRD on our YouTube channel 📽⬇️
https://youtu.be/__yXMrBYek4
🏗💧💩🧪🧫🔬🌊🌞

Women’s History Month graphic from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Pink and purple brush strokes in the background. Bold text: “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.” Event details: Thursday, March 12, 2026 at noon, Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building, 100 East Erie Street, Chicago. District seal at the bottom. Celebrates women’s leadership in sustainability.

Join us for a Women's History Month Celebration.
Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future

🗓️ Thursday, March 12
⏰ 12:00-1 p.m.
📍 100 East Erie Street, #Chicago

Seating is limited and R.S.V.P. required.
Speakers & registration details:
https://ow.ly/xgGx50YhPus

Aerial view of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s Stickney Water Reclamation Plant (MWRD), showing large circular treatment basins surrounded by green lawns and access roads. The image is featured in a graphic by MWRD of a USA Today article titled “Held it in during Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show? What toilet data shows.” The article notes that MWRD’s seven water reclamation plants don’t see a spike in treatment volumes on Super Bowl Sunday due to their large basins.

🏈 ICYMI - USA Today: The #MWRD’s seven water reclamation plants don’t typically see a huge spike in treatment volumes at any point on #SuperBowl Sunday because its basins are so large, according to Patrick Thomas, an agency spokesperson.

https://ow.ly/HPsv50YhJmX
#CookCounty #Chicago #SuperBowl2026