The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) values the health and financial security of each employee.

District employees are eligible for a comprehensive group of benefit programs. The various enrollment options are intended to provide flexibility and allow employees to maximize the value of your total compensation package. New employees are eligible for benefits upon the first day of employment. 

Questions regarding District Benefits? Reach out to the Compensation & Benefits section:

Phone: 312-751-5187

Monday - Friday

8:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

What are the Benefits?

Medical Insurance

Employees have a choice between two medical plans:  a Participating Provider Option (PPO) or coverage under a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO).  Employees enrolling in a medical plan are automatically enrolled in vision coverage.

Dental Insurance

Employees have a choice between two dental plans: a fee-for-service (PPO) plan providing access to any dentist or a managed-care (HMO) dental program under which an employee may select a dentist from a list of providers.

Life Insurance

$25,000 coverage is provided to all full-time employees at no cost to the employee. Additional optional coverage up to $250,000 is available at the expense of the employee.

Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)

Employees are provided an HRA account to which the District contributes funds to help pay for qualified out-of-pocket medical, dental and vision expenses for the employee and any eligible dependents. Contributions are based on hours worked.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

EAP offers confidential counseling, legal and financial consultation, work-life assistance, and crisis intervention designed to help address personal concerns and other life issues.  All employees and dependents are eligible. Enrollment is not required.

Medical and Dependent Care (Child Daycare) Flexible Spending Accounts

Employees may elect pre-tax payroll deductions to be used for payment of certain medical, dental, vision and dependent care (child daycare) expenses.  Annual enrollment is required.

Pre-Tax Parking and Transit Program

Employees may elect to have pre-tax payroll deductions to be used for mass transit and/or parking expenses.  Enrollment may begin at any time.

Pension Plan

Through a combination of District and tax-qualified employee contributions, the pension fund provides for retirement income based on salary and length of service.  You will complete pension plan enrollment forms upon employment.  Please visit MWRDRF.org for more detailed information about the Pension Plan.

Deferred Compensation

A tax-qualified deferred compensation plan is available.  Employees may invest in this supplemental retirement savings program through pre-tax or post-tax payroll deductions.  Enrollment is optional and may begin at any time.

Tuition Reimbursement

The District offers a tuition reimbursement program to all full-time employees. Tuition costs for approved undergraduate and graduate courses are reimbursed up to 75% to a maximum of reimbursement of $10,000 per calendar year.

Credit Union

Savings and checking accounts, mortgage, automobile, home equity, signature, and secured loans are available at competitive rates.  Savings deposits and loan repayments are made through payroll deductions.

Vacation/Holiday Leave

Employees are paid for eleven holidays per year plus five Optional Holidays.  New employees hired after June 30th will receive three Optional Holidays for the calendar year and will receive five Optional Holidays following January 1st after their hire date.

Vacation time is calculated as follows:

Sick Leave/Disability Benefits

Employees earn 12 paid sick leave days per year for use related to illness, injury or medical appointments. Unused sick leave days can be carried over for use in a future year. Employees are also provided disability benefits through the District Retirement Fund.  Details regarding disability benefits can be found at MWRDRF.org. 

Parental Leave

Eligible employees are provided with paid parental leave in the form of recovery time (birth mother only) of up to 20 days and care and bonding time of up to 10 days (either parent) in accordance with the current policy.

*Employees in job classifications represented by a recognized bargaining agent should consult their 

Collective Bargaining Agreement for the applicable Holiday schedule, and vacation and sick leave calculations.

Transparency in Coverage

To support the Transparency in Coverage rules included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, the District has published machine readable files for its group health plan. The files for the District PPO plan can be found at: Transparency In Coverage - PPO. The files for the HMO plan can be found using the “Machine Readable Files for Transparency in Coverage” link on www.bcbsil.com. The link will appear in the “Policy Documents” section under “Member Services”.