#MWRD’s
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The #MWRD was recognized with the 2025 Blue Ribbon Award by Friends of the Chicago River (FOCR) for its transformative Robbins Heritage Park and Midlothian Creek Restoration Project.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/nTEs50Y9x0g

#CookCounty #ChicagoRiver #RobbinIL #Midlothian #CalSagChannel
A graphic that includes a photo of four people standing together indoors. From left to right: Margaret Frisbie, Executive Director of Friends of the Chicago River, presents the 2025 Chicago River Blue Ribbon Award to Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn, Managing Civil Engineer Joe Kratzer, and Commissioner Sharon Waller. Joe Kratzer holds a framed award certificate. The image is overlaid onto a transparent image of the Robbins Heritage Park and Midlothian Creek Restoration Project. Text announces the Friends of the Chicago River’s honor for MWRD’s Robbins Heritage Park and Midlothian Creek Restoration Project. The overlaid text describes the award, the project’s innovative design, nature-based solutions for stormwater and flooding, and community benefits. A link to learn more is provided at the bottom. A graphic composed of two photos. The top photo shows three ducks standing on a nesting structure in a wetland area, surrounded by water and aquatic plants, representing restored wildlife habitat. The bottom photo is an aerial view of Robbins Heritage Park and Midlothian Creek Restoration Project, featuring a winding creek, green parkland, walking paths, and stone-lined banks, illustrating flood mitigation and community recreation improvements. The graphic highlights the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s award-winning restoration project recognized by Friends of the Chicago River.
February 5, 2026 at 8:03 PM
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📣 ICYMI: ABC7 CHICAGO: MWRD raises flag in honor of Black History Month

🎥 News report:
https://mwrd.org/news/mwrd-raises-flag-honor-black-history-month-abc-7-news-5-pm

▶️ More at #MWRD's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/BSgqTRyAuiU?si=hmwDB6mApuXVzcOb

#Chicago #BHM100 #BlackHistoryMonth #ICYMI

ABC 7 Eyewitness News graphic with headline: "MWRD Raises Flag in Honor of Black History Month," dated February 2, 2026, 5:14 PM. Below, a photo shows the Pan-African flag (red, black, and green) being raised outside a building in Chicago, with a caption: "Celebrating Black History Month. Pan-African Flag Raising. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago." The temperature is 26°F. The background repeats the acronym "ICYMI," which stands for "In Case You Missed It."
February 5, 2026 at 6:44 PM
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Historical Photo of the Day: Construction of the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant on May 2, 1922. Request an in-person tour for your community or school group ⬇️
https://mwrd.org/education/tours
🏗💧💩🧪🧫🔬🌊🌞
Construction of the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) on May 2, 1922. In operation for 100 years, the Calumet WRP is the oldest of the MWRD’s seven WRPs, serving residents and businesses in the southern portion of Cook County since 1922.
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
durbin.senate.gov
Today, I met with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to discuss federal reimbursement for MWRD’s work on the Thornton Reservoir. I will continue to push for this reimbursement and to offer the resources MWRD needs to keep our state’s water infrastructure up and running.
January 14, 2026 at 9:55 PM
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Join us for the MWRD’s 7th annual Pan-African Flag Raising Ceremony as we celebrate Black History Month.

❤️ Monday, February 2, 10 a.m.
🖤 Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building
💚 100 E. Erie Street, Chicago

❤️🖤💚
mwrd.org/events/pan-a...

#MWRD #CookCounty #Chicago
Graphic for the 7th Annual Pan-African Flag Raising Ceremony, held Monday, February 2, 2026, at 10 a.m, in recognition of Black History Month. The design features a stylized Pan-African flag with red, black, and green horizontal bands. Event location listed as the Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building, 100 East Erie Street, Chicago. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago logo appears at the bottom, along with a list of the Board of 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 Sepúlveda; and Sharon Waller.
January 12, 2026 at 7:06 PM
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I will be joined by Elevate's Water Programs Manager Bethany Olson, the Healthy Homes Program's Bilingual Health Educator Vanessa Mendoza, and MWRD's Director of Engineering, Dr. Catherine O'Connor.
Flyer highlights professional panel with headshots and short bios
January 12, 2026 at 6:03 PM
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📷 A view inside the blower room at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant on June 6, 1923.

📣 Join our virtual tour on Wednesday, January 14, from 2-3:15 p.m. to learn how the #MWRD protects public health and the environment ⬇️
https://mwrd.org/education/tours/virtual-tours
🏗💧💩🧪🧫🔬🌊🌞
A view inside the blower room at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) on June 6, 1923. The Calumet WRP is the oldest of the MWRD’s seven WRPs and has been in operation since 1922, serving residents and businesses in the southern portion of Cook County, Illinois.
January 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM
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See-pah, like MWRD's SEPA stations
A Tour of Blue Island's SEPA Station
YouTube video by Blue Island Television
youtu.be
January 7, 2026 at 4:35 AM
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In 2025, we collected approximately 400 pounds of medications through our medication disposal program.

You can help keep medications from entering our waterways, too. Use one of our safe drug collection boxes.

Find locations:
mwrd.org/community-ac...

#MWRD #Chicago
MWRD Chairman of Finance Marcelino Garcia, wearing a red patterned sweater, smiles while depositing unused medications into a blue MedSafe disposal drop box located indoors at the MWRD's Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building, 100 E. Erie St., Chicago. He holds blister packs and a small clear bag of pills, demonstrating medication disposal. The MedSafe unit is labeled “Unused Medication Disposal” with instructions visible on the front. Graphic from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago promoting safe medication disposal. The design shows a blue medication disposal drop box with pills illustrated above it. Text reads, “Think Inside the Box. Never flush medications down the toilet or a drain. Instead, use one of our safe collection sites.” The MWRD logo appears at the top, and the graphic directs viewers to visit mwrd.org for a list of disposal sites throughout Cook County. Social media logos are at the bottom, indciating where the MWRD has social media profiles.
January 5, 2026 at 7:30 PM
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MWRD earns continued AAA, Aa1, & AA+ Ratings from Fitch, Moody’s and S&P Global

These reaffirmations underscore the rating agencies’ ongoing confidence in the #MWRD’s financial management, operational stability & commitment to maintaining long-term fiscal responsibility.

buff.ly/MX6Uxd4

#Chicago
Aerial view of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s sidestream elevated pool aeration (SEPA) station in Worth along the Cal-Sag Channel. Curved concrete weirs and landscaped islands guide flowing water as it cascades through the aeration system, helping oxygenate the channel. Trees with fall foliage line the riverbanks, and a small boat is visible on the water. Below, a second view shows a calm section of the channel with ducks swimming near the surface, a white fence, and autumn trees in the background. The MWRD seal appears centered between the images. On-screen text reads: “MWRD earns continued AAA, Aa1, and AA+ Ratings from Fitch, Moody’s and S&P Global.” At the bottom, additional text reads: "The MWRD’s sidestream elevated pool aeration (SEPA) station in Worth along the Cal-Sag Channel helps oxygenate the water, keeping it healthy for a diverse species of fish that are monitored by MWRD biologists. These water quality protections and monitoring programs are all made possible by strong MWRD finances."
December 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM
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The MWRD Board of Commissioners formally adopted a $1.8 billion budget on Dec. 18 to continue the #MWRD’s critical work protecting the water environment for 5.19 million people living throughout #CookCounty.

Learn more at MWRD.org/News: ow.ly/sYF050XN9Op

MWRD.org/BOC

#Wastewater #Stormwater
Graphic with an aerial view of a curving restored creek and floodplain at Robbins Heritage Park and the Midlothian Creek Restoration Project, surrounded by trees, roads, and nearby industrial buildings. Overlaid text reads: “Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago” and “2026 Budget.” Additional black text states: “MWRD budget affords reliable, essential, innovative wastewater treatment, stormwater management services in 2026.” At the bottom, text reads: “Final Budget adopted December 11, 2025; amended December 18, 2025.” The image promotes MWRD’s 2026 budget and highlights stormwater management and clean water initiatives, including completion of the Robbins Heritage Park and Midlothian Creek Restoration Project in early 2026, which will provide 100-year flood protection to more than 140 acres.
December 22, 2025 at 2:24 PM
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📣 Join a leading organization committed to protecting the environment in #CookCounty! Apply for the following positions:
🖥️ Applications Administrator
🔬 Environmental Microbiologist

✍️ The application period closes on December 26, 2025: www.jobapscloud.com/MWRD/
A summer scene on the main stem of the Chicago River with kayakers in the foreground and the water arc of the MWRD's Centennial Fountain in the background.
December 12, 2025 at 1:53 PM
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📣ICYMI - Read MWRD President Kari K. Steele’s op-ed in The Chicago Crusader Newspaper as part of World Toilet Day: Sanitation is a human right, and the MWRD works every day to uphold that right with integrity, innovation, and service.

mwrd.org/news/world-t...
A promotional graphic styled like a newspaper feature. At the top is the Crusader Newspaper Group logo. The headline reads: “On World Toilet Day, MWRD Reaffirms Its Commitment to Safe, Resilient Sanitation.” Below it is a subheading: “November 20, 2025 | By MWRD President Kari K. Steele.” On the left side is a portrait of MWRD President Kari K. Steele, smiling and wearing a navy suit jacket and pearl necklace, standing with arms folded. On the right side, black text lists MWRD sanitation and climate-resilience investments, including infrastructure for extreme storms, water reuse, nutrient recovery, and green infrastructure that supports resilience and equity. Additional text emphasizes the importance of sanitation workers, human rights, and the MWRD’s commitment to service. The bottom portion of the graphic features a blue and white patterned background repeated with large letters “ICYMI.”
December 9, 2025 at 3:33 PM
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Cook County public agencies: MWRD’s Stormwater Partnership programs are open! Help build a more resilient and flood-safe future for your community!

Details: mwrd.org/stormwater/p...

#MWRD #CookCounty #Stormwater #GreenInfrastructure
Graphic titled “Stormwater Partnerships” from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD). Announces two application periods for stormwater-related programs. Top section: “Pre-applications open! Apply thru December 31, 2025” with three programs listed — Stormwater Partnership Program, Green Infrastructure Partnership Program, and Conceptual Projects. Bottom section: “Applications open! Apply thru March 6, 2026” with one program listed — Voluntary Flood-Prone Property Acquisition Program. Each program is accompanied by a themed icon. The graphic promotes funding and support opportunities for Cook County public agencies. Learn more at mwrd.org/stormwater/partnerships.
December 3, 2025 at 8:04 PM
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Local governments and public agencies: Explore funding opportunities for green infrastructure through MWRD’s Green Infrastructure Partnership Program. Join the webinar on Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. Register at mwrd.org/event/gippwebinar. 🌊 🌿🧱

#MWRD #CookCounty #GreenInfrastructure #Innovation
A person sits at a table using a laptop that displays information about the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s stormwater partnership programs, including the Green Infrastructure Partnership Program, Stormwater Partnership Program, Voluntary Flood-Prone Property Acquisition Program, and Conceptual Projects. Text above the image promotes a Green Infrastructure Partnership Program webinar scheduled for Dec. 3 at 10 a.m., with a link to mwrd.org/event/gippwebinar.
November 28, 2025 at 7:10 PM
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#MWRD’s 13th Annual #Sustainability Summit highlights collaboration & #stormwater innovation.

Congrats to the awardees!
Town of Cicero
Blue Island Public Library
The Village of Oak Park
Morton Freshman Center
Salt Creek Watershed Network

Learn more & watch the video:
mwrd.org/news/mwrds-1...
A large group of about twenty people stands together on a stage, smiling for a group photo at the MWRD’s 13th annual Sustainability Summit. Two people in front kneel while holding wooden award plaques, and another person sits holding an award. The rest of the group stands behind them in rows. The backdrop includes a green screen with icons related to sustainability. Below the photo, a caption states that two commissioners presented awards and honored expert speakers who discussed climate resilience and environmental protection at the MWRD’s 13th Annual Sustainability Summit. The headline reads: “MWRD’s 13th Annual Sustainability Summit highlights collaboration and stormwater innovation.” The accompanying text describes the summit, held on Nov. 13 in Cicero, Illinois, highlighting regional stormwater management, sustainability, and award recipients including local municipalities, schools, and environmental organizations.
November 26, 2025 at 2:16 PM
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📷 View from the roof of Lawrence Hall at 4833 N. Francisco Avenue in Chicago showing the MWRD's North Branch Pumping Station in June 1929.

📣 Join our next virtual tour on Tuesday, December 9, from 2-3:15 p.m. ⬇️
mwrd.org/education/to...
🏗💧💩🧪🧫🔬🌊🌞
A view from the roof of Lawrence Hall at 4833 N. Francisco Avenue in Chicago showing the MWRD's North Branch Pumping Station in June 1929. The station was completed in 1929 and went into service in 1930. It is still in operation and pumps wastewater and stormwater to the O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant to be cleaned. Join our next virtual tour on Tuesday, December 9, from 2-3:15 p.m. and learn how the MWRD protects public health and the environment by treating wastewater for Chicago and 128 suburban communities: https://mwrd.org/education/tours/virtual-tours
November 22, 2025 at 1:01 PM
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The sun rises over the Calumet River near the MWRD's Sidestream Elevated Pool Aeration (SEPA) station no. 1 with the Torrence Avenue bridge in the background. Join our virtual tour tomorrow at 2 p.m. Register here: mwrd.org/education/to...
The sun rises over the Calumet River near the MWRD's Sidestream Elevated Pool Aeration (SEPA) station no. 1 with the Torrence Avenue bridge in the background.
November 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM
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📷 A brave individual atop an electric cable pole near Romeo Road bridge in Lockport on August 30, 1907. Power generated at the MWRD's Lockport Powerhouse was transferred through cables along the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to a control station in Pilsen. Learn more 📽⬇️
youtu.be/__yXMrBYek4
A brave individual atop an electric cable pole near Romeo Road bridge in Lockport, Illinois, on August 30, 1907. Power generated at the MWRD's Lockport Powerhouse was transferred through cables along the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to a control station in Pilsen. Learn more about the work of the MWRD: https://youtu.be/__yXMrBYek4
October 23, 2025 at 12:03 PM
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🌊 Update: All Clear.

The MWRD’s Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP) continued to operate as designed, capturing rain fall & sewage to keep it out of local waterways & local communities serviced by combined sewer systems.

Sign up for text alerts:
lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/YhH2xGP/M...

#Chicago
A graphic featuring a yellow and white circle on a white background. Large blue text is overlayed on the yellow portion of the circle, reading: "Act! It's an Overflow Action Day." Beneath the message are the logos of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and Friends of the Chicago River. Below the yellow circle, on the white background, text reads: "Update."
October 20, 2025 at 3:38 PM
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Historical Photo of the Day: A view of the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant on April 13, 1923. Request an in-person tour for your community or school group ⬇️
mwrd.org/education/to...
A view of the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) on April 13, 1923. The oldest of the MWRD’s seven WRPs, Calumet has been in operation since 1922, serving residents and businesses in the southern portion of Cook County. Request an in-person tour for your community or school group here: https://mwrd.org/education/tours
October 17, 2025 at 12:02 PM
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🍂 Fall colors bloom at sunset over the MWRD's Sidestream Elevated Pool Aeration (SEPA) Station #3 on the Cal-Sag Channel in Blue Island, Illinois. Learn about the work of the MWRD on our next virtual tour October 15: mwrd.org/education/to...
Fall colors bloom at sunset over the MWRD's Sidestream Elevated Pool Aeration (SEPA) Station #3 on the Cal-Sag Channel in Blue Island, Illinois. The Western Avenue bridge is seen in the background. Learn about the work of the MWRD on our next virtual tour October 15: https://mwrd.org/education/tours/virtual-tours
October 9, 2025 at 6:49 PM
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📣 ICYMI: MWRD President Kari K. Steele is featured in the October issue of Municipal Water Leader magazine. She highlights the MWRD’s 130+ year legacy of protecting public health and advancing water innovation.

mwrd.org/news/innovat...

#MWRD #Chicago
#RecoveringResources #TransformingWater
A graphic promoting an article in Municipal Water Leader magazine featuring MWRD President Kari K. Steele smiling with arms crossed in front of an image of the McCook Reservoir. The headline reads, “Innovative Solutions for a Resilient Water Future,” dated October 2, 2025. The caption below notes that Steele highlights the MWRD’s 130+ year legacy of protecting public health and advancing water innovation, including reversing the Chicago River and building one of the world’s largest combined sewer overflow systems.
October 6, 2025 at 8:15 PM
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📣 Check out the October 2025 edition of FLOW for the latest news and event information from the #MWRD.

FLOW: For the Love of Water 🌊
mwrd.org/news/mwrd-flow-october-2025

🎥📍 The MWRD’s Nicholas J. Melas Centennial Fountain, May 14, 2025. The fountain reopens in May 2026. mwrd.org/what-we-do/r...
October 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
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Historical Photo of the Day: Construction site preparation on the west side of the South Branch of the Chicago River at Harrison Street on May 26, 1902, prior to the MWRD's construction of a new Harrison Street bridge. Learn how the #MWRD protects the environment 📽⬇️
youtu.be/__yXMrBYek4
🏗💧💩🧪🧫🔬🌊🌞
Construction site preparation on the west side of the South Branch of the Chicago River at Harrison Street on May 26, 1902, prior to the MWRD's construction of a new Harrison Street bridge. The MWRD (then known as the Metropolitan Sanitary District) replaced 12 bridges on the Chicago River and South Branch in the early 1900s in support of efforts to increase the capacity of the waterway and to improve navigation. Learn how the MWRD protects the environment on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/__yXMrBYek4
October 4, 2025 at 12:01 PM