About the MWRD
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) manages waste and storm water. While serving most of Cook County, the agency operates independently of Cook County and the City of Chicago.
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THE MWRD'S MISSION
“The District will protect the health and safety of the public in its service area, protect the quality of the water supply source (Lake Michigan), improve the quality of water in watercourses in its service area, protect businesses and homes from flood damages, and manage water as a vital resource for its service area. The District is committed to achieving the highest standards of excellence in fulfilling its mission.”
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DID YOU KNOW...
MWRD manages waste and storm water, not drinking water.
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MWRD’s Board consists of 9 commissioners who represent the entire District for a 6-year term.
The MWRD has a budget of $1.7 billion.
The MWRD owns approximately 24,000 acres of land and is the second largest land owner in Cook County.
The MWRD's Board consists of 9 Commissioners who each represent the entire District for a 6-year term.
Every 2 years, on a rotating basis, the terms of 3 commissioners expire, so three 6-year terms will be on the ballot in 2026. In this election, these are the terms of Cameron Davis, Eira Corral-Sepulveda, and Precious Brady-Davis (who was elected to finish Kim DuBuclet’s term).
There will also be an election for the remaining two years of Mariyana Spyropoulos’ term.
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THE MWRD'S MISSION
PROTECT OUR WATER - AT THE SOURCE AND IN OUR WATERWAYS
Normally, MWRD routes sewage and rain water through treatment plants to remove large debris and grit until it is safe to be released into the Chicago River. However, when the sewer system becomes overwhelmed, like during heavy rainfall, MWRD bypasses the treatment plants and sends untreated sewage and rainwater directly in to the Chicago River.
While the river does not normally flow into Lake Michigan, every time it rains, the river is at risk of flooding. To prevent this, MWRD sometimes opens the barrier between the lake and the river, causing the untreated sewage from the river to pollute Lake Michigan.
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PREVENT FLOODING
Many of the sewers in Cook County accept both wastewater and rainwater. When it rains, the sewers get backed up and many of us experience flooding in our basements and streets because the mixture of rainwater and sewage has nowhere else to go.
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