Science Fair Winners Given Special Awards

The Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago awarded 16 Chicago Public School and private school students special awards for their Science Fair projects based on ecology or the environment.  The winning projects included topics such as global warming, erosion, acid rain and bioremediation.

 The District has been presenting these awards for more than 20 years to recognize students who perform exciting new work in these areas, and to encourage young men and women to pursue college degrees and careers in the Science field. 

The awards were two-fold, and consisted of certificates of achievement and a boat trip with lunch on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.  The excursion was fun as well as educational.  The docent explained that the Chicago River was reversed by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (then the Chicago Sanitary District) in 1900 to keep water contaminated by sewage from entering Lake Michigan.  Details also were given about the District treating 1.4 billion gallons of sewage each day, allowing only treated water to enter the rivers, channels and creeks.  The District’s “Deep Tunnel” also was highlighted for keeping billions of gallons of rainwater mixed with sewage out of basements and the local waterways..

Commissioner Meany commented, “It is always a pleasure to present these awards each year, knowing that out in our audience are the Science leaders of the future.”

For more information on the District, please go to the website, www.mwrd.org.

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