[Communications] COVID-19 Disaster Assistance Loans Available and MWRD's Public Health Commitment Continues

Tue Mar 31 10:17:50 CDT 2020

View this email in your browser (https://mailchi.mp/9b5658bb8494/commissioner-kimberly-neely-du-buclets-monthly-newsletter-3934013?e=c4ca39f2f7)
Your Commissioner at Work
at the MWRD
Small Business, Nonprofit, Homeowner and Renter Disaster (COVID-19) Assistance available using SBA Loans
Governor Pritzker announced (https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/coronavirus/Resources/Pages/EconomicAssistance.aspx) the U.S. Small Business Administration is providing disaster assistance loans for small businesses, non-profits, independent contractors, homeowners and renters for Illinois residents who are facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 virus. Visit www.sba.gov/page/disaster-loan-applications for more information and to apply.

Many other forms of financial assistance is available for individuals and businesses as well.  Please check State of Illinois (https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/resources-for-economic-assistance)  , Cook County (https://www.cookcountyil.gov/content/covid-19-response-information-business-community) , and City of Chicago (https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/resources.html)  or your local governments and elected officials for more information on help being provided in your community.
MWRD Has New Online WMO Permit Applications Process!
MWRD also has a new electronic Watershed Management Ordinance permit application process to keep the applications flowing.  This electronic system can be used for new WMO permit reviews, existing permit resubmittals, permit revision and permit determinations as well as a general inbox for MWRD review.  Visit mwrd.org/permits for more details.
Thank You MWRD Staff!

A Treatment Plant Operator monitoring the dissolved oxygen levels for one of the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant (https://mwrd.org/water-reclamation-plants)  aeration tanks. The aerobic microorganisms in the tanks need oxygen in order to do their job of consuming organic wastes in the water.

Thank you to the staff at MWRD who are continuing our work to protect our health and our environment. While many MWRD staff are able to work remotely, a staff presence is still needed on site to help make sure things continue to operate smoothly. MWRD remains committed to continue its critical work to protect the public health through water reclamation.
It's a Toilet, Not a Trash Can!
MWRD President Kari K. Steele reminds us: “Toilet paper is the only item we should be flushing down a toilet.  Wipes are helpful at a time we need to clean, but these are not flushable or biodegradable. Everything else should be deposited in the trash can, recycled, or composted.”
Wipes, paper towels and feminine hygiene products when flushed can cause problems, including: plumbing backups, sewer blockages and for MWRD and additional maintenance and repair costs that will ultimately be born by the taxpayers.  Flush with care and only flush the three Ps!
Want to Help?  Save a life by giving Blood
A drop in blood drives have caused a shortage in blood donations, which could create a second health care crisis.  People are needed to to make blood donation.  There remains a need for blood for accident victims or people with cancer who regularly need blood transfusions. Extra precautions are being taken to keep people safe when they donate blood and to ensure proper physical distances are maintained.

If you can give blood, please do.  Those blood donation information can be found through the Red Cross or online appointments to make a donation can be made through Vitalant (formerly LifeSource) at donateblood.lifesource.org (http://donateblood.lifesource.org/)
.
World Water Day in the time of COVID-19
World Water Day was on March 22.  With all the constant reminders on the importance of washing our hands (for at least 20 seconds) UN World Water Day was another opportunity to reflect on the importance of water and how important it is for not only our own survival but the survival all of those around us.  So lets take care of our water and remember: Without water, there is no life

www.worldwaterday.org (https://www.worldwaterday.org/)

============================================================
Protecting our water begins with you
** (https://mwrd.org/restore-canopy)

** (https://mwrd.org/eq-compost)

Click photo for more information on MWRD's free tree & compost programs
Contact Information
Our mailing address is:

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Commissioner Kimberly Du Buclet
100 East Erie Street
Chicago, IL 60611

Phone Number
312-751-5086
** Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/Kim4Water )
** Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/KIM4MWRD/)
Sign up for my emails!:

Copyright © 2020, All rights reserved.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can
** update your preferences (https://gmail.us3.list-manage.com/profile?u=b968358480b7ff4ced14b47c4&id=018e62f3c4&e=c4ca39f2f7)
or ** unsubscribe from this list (https://gmail.us3.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=b968358480b7ff4ced14b47c4&id=018e62f3c4&e=c4ca39f2f7&c=5477e4f48f)
.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://chicagocommunitygardens.org/pipermail/communications_chicagocommunitygardens.org/attachments/20200331/f230a6a6/attachment-0001.html>