METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT OF GREATER CHICAGO

TREATING WASTEWATER

HELPING MANAGE STORMWATER

PROTECTING OUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER, LAKE MICHIGAN

METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT OF GREATER CHICAGO ✦ TREATING WASTEWATER ✦ HELPING MANAGE STORMWATER ✦ PROTECTING OUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER, LAKE MICHIGAN ✦

Welcome to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, or MWRD! This video offers a brief overview of the treatment processes at our water reclamation plants, perfect for tour visitors and those watching from home.

Enjoy this brief introduction, and we look forward to showing you everything in person! You can visit https://mwrd.org/education/tours to learn more about or facility tours.

Fill out and submit an MWRD Facility Tour Request Form to book your tour today.

MWRD Commissioner
Precious Brady-Davis

Precious Brady-Davis was appointed to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) in July 2023 and, in November 2024, was elected to serve the remainder of an unexpired two-year term. She is the first openly Black transgender woman elected to public office in Cook County history and the first to serve on a water reclamation district in the United States.

MWRD

Established in 1889, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) is an award-winning, special purpose government agency responsible for treating wastewater and managing stormwater in Cook County, Illinois. We strive to be a responsive neighbor that engages with the public on several critical water-related issues that improve the quality of life for all.

Our Mission MWRD 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.

PHOTO: STICKNEY WATER RECLAMATION PLANT

How Chicago Cleans 1.4 Billion Gallons of Wastewater Every Day

The Stickney Water Reclamation Plant in Illinois is one of the largest wastewater-treatment facilities in the world, serving about 2.3 million people and cleaning an average of 700 million gallons of wastewater a day. During rainfall, the facility can handle a whopping 1.44 billion gallons of wastewater in a single day — that's a million gallons every minute. The clean water is released into the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, and the sludge that is removed from the water is converted to biosolids, which are a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers.

MWRD Virtual Tour: Deep Tunnel, Wastewater Treatment, Green Infrastructure, Chicago Water History

This is a video version of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago's virtual tour.

Travel back in time to early Chicago to see how we reversed the Chicago River and developed wastewater treatment technology. Go behind the scenes and under water to see how we transform the water you use every day; descend 300 feet into the deep tunnel system, and watch our electrofishing crew at work sampling fish on the Chicago River.

To see FAQs and sign up for a live virtual tour: https://mwrd.org/facility-and-virtual

Frequently Asked Questions

become a water warrior

SIGN UP FOR OVERFLOW ACTION ALERTS

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You can help reduce basement backups and flooding by conserving water before, during and after rainstorms.

In most of the Chicago area, rainwater goes through the same set of pipes as the water that goes down the drain in your home. When too much water enters sewers too quickly, the sewers can back up into streets and basements. Additionally, extra water in sewers can cause them to overflow into the river in some cases. Every little bit of conservation can help reduce the overall amount of water in the system. 

Ways to conserve water 

  • Delay or reduce shower times

  • Put off running the dishwasher

  • Wait to wash clothes in the laundry

  • Replace old and leaky faucets, toilets and showerheads with new products approved by EPA WaterSense

EXPLORE & LEARN WITH MWRD

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SUBSCRIBE TO MWRD COMMISSIONER BRADY-DAVIS’ NEWSLETTER

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COMMUNITY ACTION

PARTNERSHIPS

COMMUNITY ACTION ✦ PARTNERSHIPS ✦



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