[Communications] MWRD FLOW - May 2023

Tue May 2 16:19:40 CDT 2023

Monthly news summary from the MWRD  May 2023 | Issue 32 For the Love Of Water (FLOW) is a summary of news from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.  Click here to view FLOW on our website In this edition Upcoming Events May 4 - MWRD Board of Commissioners meeting, 10:30 a.m. May 9 - Monthly Virtual Tour of MWRD properties, 2 p.m. May 11 - Virtual Vendor Outreach Fair, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. May 13 - Open House at Egan Water Reclamation Plant, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. May 13 - Open House at Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. May 13 - Open House at Kirie Water Reclamation Plant, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. May 13 - Open House at O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. May 18 - MWRD Board of Commissioners meeting, 10:30 a.m. May 20 - Open House at Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. May 20 - Open House at Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. May 20 - IL EPA household hazardous waste collection, 8 a.m - 3 p.m. May 24 - MWRD to host Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Panel and Indoor Picnic, noon June 1 - Pride Month flag raising ceremony, 10 a.m. Latest News MWRD leadership participates in Operation Powerplay MWRD Procurement Manager wins national award thanks to staff nomination MWRD leading the way on water research and innovation at the Megacity Alliance for Water and Climate  Calumet Water Reclamation Plant Partnership Council discusses green infrastructure, tours Pullman National Historical Park Resources Free oak saplings available Read our "Green Neighbor Guide" MWRD Rain Barrel program What are Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)? Household hazardous waste collection MWRD Employment Center Doing Business with the MWRD Report Waterway Blockages, Suspicious Dumping and Odors Facility tours are back Extras Historical Photo of the Month May 2023 Calendar Upcoming Events Board of Commissioners to meet May 4 and May 18 The MWRD Board of Commissioners will hold its Regular Board Meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 4 and May 18. Public comments may be made in person at 100 E. Erie Street, Chicago, during the Public Comment period. To view the meetings, visit https://mwrd.legistar.com/calendar.aspx. Click the "In Progress" link under the Video Column. This link will be active when there is a meeting in session.  In the photo, front row, L-R: Vice President Kimberly Du Buclet, President Kari K. Steele, and Chairman of Finance Marcelino Garcia. Back row, L-R: Commissioner Cam Davis, Commissioner Mariyana Spyropoulos, Commissioner Patricia Theresa Flynn, Commissioner Eira L. Corral Sepúlveda, Commissioner Yumeka Brown and Commissioner Daniel Pogorzelski. Monthly MWRD Virtual Tour to be held Tuesday, May 9 at 2 p.m.  Join the MWRD on a virtual tour at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9. Go underwater at the world's largest water reclamation facility, explore the Deep Tunnel system, meet the dancing water bear and see electrofishing in action. Learn about our history and the stories that made us a utility for the future. Register at https://mwrd.org/facility-and-virtual-tours. Virtual Vendor Outreach Fair is May 11 Join us for our inaugural Virtual Vendor Outreach Fair on Thursday, May 11, 2023, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Have your questions answered about MWRD in classes and panel discussions hosted by our staff.  Don't miss your opportunity to: Engage with Prime Contractors and Consultants Learn about upcoming contracts, including construction, professional services, Intergovernmental Agreements and Job Order Contracts. Interact with exhibitors, including Sister and Assist Agencies. Network with other professionals in the construction and professional services industries. Learn about upcoming events and special projects with the MWRD. To reserve your spot and to see the complete agenda, please visit this link. Join us for an open house and tour on May 13 and May 20! Take a tour of one of our water reclamation plants and watch as we transform wastewater into clean water. We will also have representatives from our Human Resources, Information Technology and other departments available to answer your questions. We will be giving away oak saplings and milkweed seeds. In addition, the Cook County Sheriff's Office will be collecting electronics and medications.* Free parking. Please dress for an industrial environment; closed toe shoes and long pants are required. Reservations are not needed. Please call 312-751-6633 with any questions. *Collections will take place at all sites except the Kirie WRP. One day household hazardous waste collection event set for May 20 at the Village of Orland Park A one-day household hazardous waste (HHW) collection event will take place on Saturday, May 20, at the Village of Orland Park, 14700 Ravinia Avenue, Orland Park, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Register to participate in this event here. On-site personnel will remove the HHW from your vehicle for you. A complete list of wastes that are and are not accepted is available online at https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/waste-management/waste-disposal/household-hazardous-waste/acceptable-wastes.html. MWRD to host Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Panel and indoor Picnic on May 24 May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and the public is invited for a “History in the Making” panel and indoor picnic at the Mainstream Pumping Station, 6100 River Road, Hodgkins, IL on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, from noon to 1:30 p.m.   Following the panel, optional tours of the Mainstream Pumping Station and McCook Reservoir will be offered. Space is limited. Reserve an additional 1.5 hours for the tour.   The MSPS and McCook Reservoir are components of the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan which protects Lake Michigan from pollution. Guests will take the elevator 350’ down to one of the lowest points in Cook County. Register for the program at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/asian-american-pacific-islander-heritage-month-panel-and-indoor-picnic-tickets-611369491607. Pride Month Flag raising is June 1 At 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 1, the MWRD will kick off Pride Month with a flag raising ceremony at the Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building, 100 E. Erie St., Chicago and at all seven water reclamation plants to affirm its commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community and opportunity for all in protecting the region’s water environment.  Latest News MWRD leadership participates in Operation Powerplay On April 26, MWRD leadership participated in an emergency simulation drill designed to prepare us for catastrophic events. We appreciate the partnerships and multi-jurisdictional/multi-disciplinary effort an exercise of this magnitude requires. MWRD Procurement Manager wins national award thanks to staff nomination The National Cooperative Procurement Partners (NCPP) organization has selected MWRD Procurement Manager Michael Simkhin with an annual Above & Beyond award. Simkhin was one of 15 winners selected from across the country to receive the award that recognizes buyers, stock room clerks and managers for going above and beyond in the public procurement process. Buyers in the MWRD’s Procurement and Materials Management Department supply MWRD staff with the tools to complete their daily tasks to serve 12.72 million people each day on a yearly budget of $1.4 billon. They must create a buying strategy, research the proper business products and supplies, see what the market holds and then help write the specifications working with the end users to match the MWRD’s needs. They also assess these products with an eye on sustainability and the environment. To provide the equipment that treats and transforms 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater into clean water each day is no small feat. Senior Buyers John Kappel and Clement Cherian nominated Simkhin for the award, highlighting the encouraging workplace environment that MWRD leadership has instilled in assuring positive work results. Read more at this link. MWRD leading the way on water research and innovation at the Megacity Alliance for Water and Climate  A delegation of water experts, scientists and engineers from the MWRD joined academic and research partners from Current Water, Argonne National Laboratory, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois System to participate in an international forum in New York to collaborate on innovative water solutions that will better prepare megacities for climate change. As climate change continues to impact megacities, local governments and water operators are facing increasingly critical needs to establish climate adaptation policies and assess best practices for water systems management. The Megacity Alliance for Water and Climate (MAWaC), a UNESCO program, recently organized a workshop on Water Research and Innovation (WRI) to address these challenges.   The workshop, hosted by New York University and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection in Brooklyn, brought together government officials, policy decision-makers, water operators, and researchers from the Euro-North American Region's (ENAR) megacities to share their experiences and innovative solutions for metropolitan water ecosystem resilience. Read more at this link. Calumet Water Reclamation Plant Partnership Council discusses green infrastructure, tours Pullman National Historical Park Our Calumet Partnership Council had a great meeting and tour at Pullman National Historical Park. MWRD Associate Civil Engineer Moriah Gelder gave an overview of our "Green Neighbor Guide." Learn more about Pullman at www.nps.gov/pull/index.htm Resources Free oak saplings available Our Restore the Canopy program has returned. Complimentary red, pin, bur, black or swamp white oak saplings are available at our water reclamation plants on Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-noon.  The saplings come in one gallon pots or can be requested as bare roots in bags of 100. These must be planted within a matter of days for premium viability. If more than 50 potted saplings are desired, delivery is available, or park districts, residents and municipalities can schedule pick ups. Learn more at https://mwrd.org/treesrestore-canopy. Read our "Green Neighbor Guide" Water is one of the most valuable resources on our planet. We require clean and fresh water for drinking, cleaning, recreation and other activities. However, too much of it can become a nuisance when it causes flooding in waterways and urban areas, impacting our travel when roads are flooded and even damaging our homes and businesses. While there are myriad ways to be a Green Neighbor—some actions can be as simple as not over-fertilizing your lawn and garden, washing and maintaining your vehicles properly, or planting a native tree—our Green Neighbor Guide focuses on stormwater management projects that you can build or install on your property. The guide provides detailed instructions for disconnecting downspouts; installing rain barrels or cisterns to capture stormwater for reuse; installing dry wells and rain gardens to allow stormwater to filter into the ground; and replacing asphalt and concrete surfaces with permeable paving to reduce stormwater runoff. MWRD Rain Barrel program The MWRD offers low cost rain barrels. The 2023 price of subsidized rain barrels are $10.75 for seniors age 65+ and $21.50 for all others. Once the subsidized program ends, the price returns to $43 each. These barrels are recycled. Order online at https://mwrd.org/rain-barrels. What are Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)? Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manmade fluorinated compounds that are designed to be stable and have been in commercial use since the 1940s. The stability of the chemicals makes them difficult to degrade which is why they are often called “forever chemicals.” PFAS are in countless commercial, consumer, and industrial products and are acknowledged by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be widely present in the environment. Like other water utilities across the U.S., the MWRD is addressing how best to manage PFAS in the water environment. The MWRD’s seven water reclamation plants (WRPs) do not produce nor use PFAS but are passive receivers of these chemicals discharged to local sewers. Wastewater can contain trace amounts of these chemicals from industrial, commercial and household sources. The MWRD’s WRPs were not designed to remove these chemicals during the treatment process. The use of nonstick cookware, cosmetics and sunscreens, washing clothes, and putting out fires with certain foams can all introduce PFAS into the environment. The MWRD is closely following and proceeding based on the developing science on the potential impacts of PFAS. The key to pollution prevention is addressing the source of PFAS. The MWRD is working to identify and reduce industrial discharges of PFAS, learning how the discharge from these sources can be reduced and encouraging federal and state regulators to focus on stopping these chemicals at the source. The MWRD’s pretreatment program regulates industrial discharges to protect the treatment process and valuable resources the MWRD recovers. Visit the webpage for more information here. Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Collection Dispose of your household chemicals responsibly and recycle your old computers by dropping them off at the City of Chicago's permanent Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility at 1150 N. North Branch Street (two blocks east of the Kennedy Expressway at Division Street). Household chemicals and computers often contain hazardous substances, such as lead, mercury, and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) which can contaminate our air, soil and water. Through proper disposal methods or recycling, these hazardous substances are reprocessed and reused in an environmentally-responsible manner. The Household Chemical and Computer Recycling Facility accepts a range of items, including household cleaners, oil-based paints, solvents, cell phones, compact fluorescent light bulbs, computers and related equipment to name a few. It does not accept business/commercial sector wastes, explosives, fireworks or latex paint.  During business hours, an attendant will help unload your vehicle and accept your materials. Materials should not be left outside the facility unattended. Scheduled business hours are: Tuesdays, 7 a.m. - Noon Thursdays, 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. The first Saturday of every month 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. See which items will be accepted by visiting this link. MWRD Employment Center Are you seeking a new career or looking for a new job? If so, please visit our online employment center at this link to register, apply and learn more about jobs and the selection process at the MWRD. We also enjoy participating in job fairs throughout the county so stop by our table if you are in attendance!  Staff in a variety of job classifications were interviewed to discuss their background and work that they do. The videos can be found on the MWRD YouTube page at: https://www.youtube.com/@mwrdgc/videos. Click here to enter our Employment Center Doing Business with the MWRD Want to learn how to do business with the MWRD? Visit this link to get started. The Department of PMM procures materials and services required for operations in compliance with the Purchasing Act. The mission of the Diversity Section is to ensure that minority owned (MBE), women owned (WBE), small (SBE), and veteran owned (VBE) business enterprises are given equal opportunities to participate in the MWRD’s construction program and professional service contracts in excess of $100,000. Our procurement process is designed to ensure the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars, so we encourage you to register to become a vendor. Sign up to receive a weekly email listing new contract announcements by emailing forea at mwrd.org. Report waterway blockages, dumping to waterways or sewers and odors There are three ways the public can report waterway blockages, illegal or suspicious dumping to waterways or sewers, or odors. 1) Call 800-332-DUMP (3867) or in Spanish, 855-323-4801 2) Visit our website https://gispub.mwrd.org/incidentreporting/  3) Use our iOS app. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mwrd-citizen-incident-reporting/id914049460?ls=1 Facility tours are back After a 3-year hiatus due to the pandemic, tours of our facilities are back in full force. Recently MWRD Commissioners and staff visited the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant and Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP), including the Mainstream Pumping Station. Schedule your group's tour by visiting https://mwrd.org/facility-tours or come to an MWRD Open House on May 13 or May 20. Extras Historical Photo: A view to the south from the Adams Street bridge on May 10, 1904, showing the Pennsylvania railroad tracks on the west side of the South Branch of the Chicago River, with the Jackson Street and Metropolitan West Side elevated railroad bridges visible in the background. The inlet to the bypass tunnel, which had been built by the Sanitary District to accommodate increased flow of water through the Chicago River to the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, is at left below the railing. MAY 2023 Calendar Caption: Monarch butterflies thrive among 12 acres of milkweed planted by the MWRD at its certified monarch waystation at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, serving as habitat for pollinators throughout nearly 16 acres of native prairie landscaping. The MWRD also distributed nearly 10,000 milkweed seed packets in 2022. Pledge to save the monarchs and receive free milkweed seeds at https://mwrd.org/save-monarchs. While supplies last, please contact public.affairs at mwrd.org for a 2023 wall calendar. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago | mwrd.org Missed an edition of FLOW? Find past issues on our website under the "News" tab. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 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!
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