[Communications] MWRD FLOW - JULY 2021

[Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago]

 July 2021 | Issue 11 For the Love Of Water (FLOW) is a summary of news from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.  In this edition: Latest News Funding available for Cook County municipalities and public agencies for green infrastructure projects; applications due Monday, September 6. MWRD earns honors from NACWA for dedicated service MWRD Board approves five-year strategic plan to guide water environment, sustainability, innovation and Chicago area resilience Juneteenth - Celebrating Freedom Day Phosphorus Assessment and Reduction Plan coming to the Chicago Area Waterway System Annual Fulton County Field Day held despite threat of rain Upcoming Events Saturday, July 9 from noon to 4 p.m. - Shred-a-thon at the 31st Ward Office, 4606 W. Diversey Ave., Chicago Saturday, July 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Drive-through drop off at St. Mary of Celle Parish, Berwyn Wednesday, July 14 from 7 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. - Live, virtual MWRD tour Thursday, July 15 at 10:30 a.m. - Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting Saturday, July 17 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Prince of Peace Apostolic Church Community Fair Resources Save the monarchs; take the pledge Free oak saplings to Restore the Canopy Exceptional Quality Compost still available for the season MWRD Employment Center Visit the MWRD's Virtual Library MWRD video highlights infrastructure investments to address odors at Stickney Water Reclamation Plant "A healthy waterway begins with you; A Guide to Water Wellness" "The Green Neighbor Guide" "Where Does IT Go?" Report waterway blockages, suspicious dumping and odors to 800-332-DUMP (3867). News and Notes Mama turtle finds comfort on MWRD EQ Compost Buffalo Creek Reservoir expansion project featured in Storm Water Solutions magazine Historical Photo of the Month July 2021 Calendar Latest News Funding available for Cook County municipalities and public agencies for green infrastructure projects; applications due September 6 We are accepting applications to fund local green infrastructure projects that mitigate flooding, protect area water quality and enhance public spaces. We seek to partner with local municipalities and public agencies to install green infrastructure throughout our service area in Cook County. For more information, including program guidelines, partnership responsibilities and eligibility requirements, click here. Applications are due by September 6. MWRD earns honors from NACWA for dedicated service The MWRD has again earned national recognition for our work in treating the region’s wastewater. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) honored the MWRD with six Platinum Peak Performance Awards for at least five consecutive years of meeting stringent permit guidelines at six MWRD water reclamation plants (WRPs), including the Calumet WRP, pictured here, which earned platinum honors for meeting full compliance for 29 consecutive years. Read more here. MWRD Board approves five-year strategic plan to guide water environment, sustainability, innovation and Chicago area resilience A first-of-its-kind robust collaborative strategic planning process that occurred over nine months has culminated in the approval of a landmark strategic plan document to guide the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s (MWRD’s) efforts to protect the region’s water environment and enhance the quality of life for Chicago area residents.  The MWRD’s Strategic Plan 2021-2025 was approved by the MWRD Board of Commissioners on June 3, 2021, following an elaborate planning process utilizing public participation, a steering committee and engagement with local government agencies and consultants. To read the press release and Strategic Plan, click here. Juneteenth - Celebrating Freedom Day For the first year, MWRD staff were able to select Juneteenth - June 19 - as a holiday option thanks to a change in policy by the Board of Commissioners last year. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of emancipation of slaves in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger and his Union soldiers marched into Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and proclaimed "absolute equality of rights" to liberate the country's last remaining slaves. Read more about it here. Phosphorus Assessment and Reduction Plan coming to the Chicago Area Waterway System The MWRD is developing a Phosphorus Assessment and Reduction Plan for the Chicago Area Waterways System to identify unnatural plant or algae growth that could be caused by phosphorus. To learn more, click here. Annual Fulton County Field Day held despite threat of rain We survived the storm and boarded our hayrides through idyllic Fulton County on June 28 at our annual Field Day to learn the best practices in reducing and collecting nutrient runoff to protect downstream water quality. Our staff and partners at Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center and Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council presented their innovative research on preserving soil nutrients through cover crop inter-seeding, buffer strips, drainage water management techniques, denitrifying bioreactors and more. We were grateful to be joined by representatives from the MWRD Board of Commissioners, Cook County Farm Bureau, Fulton County Farm Bureau, Illinois Department of Agriculture, many Illinois farmers, agriculture experts and water quality protectors from around the state. Thanks to all who braved the weather to learn about the many ways we can join together to improve water quality downstream. Upcoming Events Board of Commissioners to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 15 Due to Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Disaster Declaration and pursuant to Public Act 101-0640, the MWRD will hold its Board of Commissioners’ Regular Board Meeting by video conference at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 15. The MWRD Board Room and building will remain closed to protect the health and safety of the public and staff; only essential personnel will be allowed entry. To view the meeting and public hearing and to comment, visit our website at https://mwrd.legistar.com/calendar.aspx. Public comments may be made during the public comment period by calling (312) 751-3299. Comments may also be made by registering under the eComment link during the live meeting. Electronic comments will not be read during the meeting but will be provided to the Board electronically. If you would like to view the live stream of the meeting, click the "In Progress" link under the Video Column. The "In Progress" link will only be active when there is a meeting in session. Shred-a-thon set for Friday, July 9 from noon to 4 p.m. Now is a good time to clean out your medicine cabinets and collect your broken computers, components and televisions, then bring these items (no liquids or medical syringes please) for environmentally-friendly disposal by the Cook County Sheriff's office. They will be parked in the lot at the 31st Ward Office, 4606 W. Diversey Ave., Chicago, on Friday, July 9 from noon to 4 p.m. Call 773-824-2000 for more information. Drive-through drop off at St. Mary of Celle Parish, Berwyn, is Saturday, July 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Cook County Sheriff's office will also be collecting medications, electronics and paper for off-site shredding to St. Mary of Celle Parish, 14th and Euclid, Berwyn, on Saturday, July 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. As a reminder, pet medications are allowed for all of these collections. Computers, electronic cords, cell phones, chargers, televisions, tangled and broken holiday lights, toasters and vacuums are among the items that will be accepted. Join us for a live virtual tour at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14 At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14, 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.  Our virtual tours are free and open to the public. Please register at this link.  No time available on July 14? Click here to watch a one hour pre-recorded tour. Prince of Peace Apostolic Church Community Fair set for Saturday, July 17 The Prince of Peace Apostolic Church Community Fair is set for 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 17. Stop by our booth to pick up free oak saplings, milkweed seeds to help save the monarch butterfly, and "Where Does IT Go?" storybooks while supplies last. Please call Shirley Yancy at 773-493-7600 or 773-610-0276 for additional information or visit their Facebook page. Resources Save the monarchs; take the pledge The MWRD has partnered with the Illinois Monarch Project to help save monarch butterflies from becoming extinct. Populations have rapidly declined due to climate change, poor land management practices and heavy reliance on pesticides and herbicides. Milkweed, the sole source of food for monarch caterpillars, has also declined. Deep-rooted native plants like milkweed are multi-purpose as they can also help manage stormwater. Take our online pledge to help save the monarchs. While supplies last, we will send you a complimentary packet of milkweed seeds (available to Cook County residents only) when you complete and submit your pledge. So far, more than 2,800 people have taken the pledge, and we have distributed 6,000 complimentary milkweed seed packets to area residents through mailings and community outreach events. Read the Block Club Chicago article to learn more, and watch as Commissioner Kimberly DuBuclet explains the program to FOX 32 Chicago. Free oak saplings to Restore the Canopy  The MWRD is distributing a variety of red, pin, white and black oak trees at our water reclamation plants every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon.  The saplings might be small now, but with care and a little watering and patience, oak trees can grow up to 80 feet tall. Depending on root growth, the saplings can stay in the pot for months before planting in a larger pot or in the ground with moderate watering each week to keep soil moist but not soggy. Avoid power lines and structures when planting.  Trees can help mitigate flooding. A medium-sized oak tree can help prevent flooding by absorbing 2,800 gallons of rainfall per year. Trees are vital to our environment for other reasons as well. They can reduce air pollution, improve health and well-being, and keep neighborhoods cooler; create a sense of community; lower energy bills; increase property value; provide protection from wind; buffer noise; provide shade; increase habitat for wildlife; absorb carbon dioxide; and produce oxygen. MWRD Commissioner Cameron Davis explains the value of trees in this short video. Exceptional Quality Compost still available for the season A steady stream of visitors are pulling up to our water reclamation plants daily to protect the planet by reusing, recycling and replenishing, and now growing healthy gardens. So bring your own bucket and shovel to one of our water reclamation plants to pick up free compost. Learn more at https://mwrd.org/eq-compost. MWRD Employment Center Do you or someone you know have a love for the environment? Are you seeking a new career or looking for your first job? If so, we invite you to visit our online employment center at www.districtjobs.org to register, apply and learn more about jobs and the selection process at the MWRD. Visit the MWRD's virtual library MWRD video highlights infrastructure investments to address odors at Stickney Water Reclamation Plant The MWRD released a new video highlighting its commitment to addressing wastewater treatment, odor control measures and infrastructure investments to improve quality of life for its neighbors. Featuring MWRD Commissioner and Chairman of Finance Marcelino Garcia, the video focuses on the MWRD’s many initiatives to manage odors that arise during the natural biological process to treat wastewater at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, one of the world’s largest wastewater treatment facilities. The video can be view on the MWRD's YouTube Channel in Spanish and English. Read the press release. "A healthy waterway begins with you: A guide to Water Wellness" Did you know that many common household products can contribute to water contamination? Think about how you will use or discard a product  before you purchase it. Is there an environmentally friendly alternative? Consider how the things you use in your everyday life and your actions affect the waterways and the environment. Choose to do something different – use environmentally friendly products; dispose of medication properly; pick up your pet waste; discard waste properly and teach your children to do the same.  Help us protect our rivers and streams by reading “A healthy waterway begins with you: A Guide to Water Wellness.” Download a copy today. "The Green Neighbor Guide" Does water pool on your property when it rains? Learn specific steps you can take to manage the flow of stormwater on your property. Implementing green infrastructure may be beneficial to reducing the amount of water that accumulates. Rain barrels, bioswales, rain gardens, and dry wells help to capture excessive rainwater. You may also consider installing permeable pavement driveways and paths, as well as disconnecting downspouts. Download "The Green Neighbor Guide” to learn more about these tools, including step by step installation instructions. "Where Does IT GO?"  "Where Does IT Go?" tells the story of three young water explorers who travel in a magical ship through MWRD pipes, sewers and tanks that are used to clean dirty water. Click here to download the book and watch the video. Other educational materials for students available: mwrd.org/k-12 and mwrd.org/education/publications. View other videos on our YouTube channel: Terrence J. O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant video tour https://youtu.be/oJ4IbCBf7g0 How To Install A Rain Barrel https://youtu.be/ZKD3bqIItpE News and Notes Mama turtle finds comfort on MWRD EQ Compost We are happy to protect the water environment and recover sustainable resources for this snapping turtle who felt at home laying her eggs comfortably on our EQ Compost. Our EQ Compost is a sustainable and environmentally beneficial product derived from the water reclamation process that blends biosolids with woodchips to create a product rich in organic matter to improve the structure and porosity of soils. Talk about the circle of life! 🐢🐢🐢 Buffalo Creek Reservoir expansion project featured in Storm Water Solutions Magazine The Buffalo Creek Reservoir in the Lake County Forest Preserves near Buffalo Grove, Illinois, has a fresh new look and feel thanks to the MWRD's work to increase the reservoir’s capacity by nearly 60 million gallons. Also improved is the reservoir’s setting. Now teeming with natural prairie and wetland plants to absorb more water, it has more capacity to protect neighboring communities from flooding. Read more from Storm Water Solutions magazine at this link. Historical Photo of the Month A nearly complete bridge at Randolph Street over the South Branch of the Chicago River, looking west from an elevated railroad platform on April 24, 1903. July 2021 Calendar Contact the Office of Public Affairs at (312) 751-6633 if you would like a hard copy of our annual wall calendar. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago | mwrd.org Missed an edition of FLOW? Find past issues on our website. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago | 100 E. Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60611 Unsubscribe communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by public.affairs at mwrd.org powered by Try email marketing for free today!
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://chicagocommunitygardens.org/pipermail/communications_chicagocommunitygardens.org/attachments/20210701/f23985f8/attachment-0001.html>