MWRD-Engineering Forms

Engineering Forms

These forms may be of interest to people and organizations within the boundaries of the District. We will provide forms that can be submitted to us electronically in the future when digital signatures are acceptable to our organization. In the meantime, we will provide them to you in a format that can be completed on-line and then printed, signed and returned by surface mail. Most of the forms are Microsoft Word documents. If you don't have Word on your computer, you can get a free viewer from Microsoft.

Sewerage System Permit

A Sewerage System Permit application must be submitted to the MWRD Engineering Department, Local Sewer Systems Section at 111 E. Erie, Chicago, IL 60611 and be approved by the MWRD Director of Engineering prior to construction of sewers within the MWRD service area. A sewer permit may also be necessary if stormwater detention/runoff mitigation is required by MWRD due to proposed development/redevelopment, even if no new sewer work is proposed under the project (e.g. parking lots, building additions, athletic fields, etc.).

MWRD Sewer Permit Applicability

An MWRD Sewerage System Permit is required prior to construction of any

	sanitary sewer, sanitary sewer appurtenance, forcemain, lift station, or treatment plant within the boundaries of the MWRD;
	sewers directly connecting to MWRD facilities (for example, MWRD-owned interceptors or relief sewers, TARP (Deep Tunnel) facilities, waterways within MWRD, MWRD flood control reservoirs, or MWRD storm sewers), or modifications of these connections;
	sewers discharging directly upon or being built across MWRD land;
	storm sewers/drainage/detention facilities within areas designated as “combined sewer area” on the District’s Combined Sewer Area Atlas; and
	storm sewers/drainage/detention facilities which are tributary to an MWRD interceptor or treatment plant, whether or not the sewer/project is within a combined sewer area;
	new outfall sewers on a waterway or modification of or adjustment to an existing outfall on a waterway (i.e. rivers, canals, creeks, Lake Michigan, and other “waters of the District”); or
	storm sewer/drainage facilities, stormwater detention storage and outflow control facilities required to be provided to meet MWRD stormwater detention requirements.

Permits are also required for sewer line replacement, enlargement, rehabilitation, lining, spot repairs, and changes in capacity of pumping/lift stations or treatment plants (a short-form Notification and Request for Inspection (NRI) permit may be applicable in these cases; see below).

MWRD permits are issued for construction of the sewers proposed under the permit as well as their operation and maintenance, and, if applicable, construction, operation and maintenance of MWRD-required stormwater detention facilities. Once sewers and stormwater detention facilities are constructed, and inspected and approved by MWRD inspection personnel for placement in operation, no changes can be made without written approval from the MWRD Director of Engineering.

Exemptions Building sewer service lines/laterals to serve single-family buildings, or multi-family residential buildings with fewer than 25 dwelling units, and which connect to existing local public facilities are exempt from the need for a permit unless

	a local sewer main is extended in order to serve the residential property;
	direct connection is being made to an MWRD interceptor instead of a local sewer main; construction involves modification to or adjustment of MWRD facilities; an outfall is proposed to a waterway;
	any proposed sewer line within the property site will serve more than one building; and/or
	sewer facilities will discharge upon or be constructed on MWRD property.

Projects in the City of Chicago - Sewer Connection Authorizations

Projects in the City of Chicago are exempt from the need for an MWRD Sewerage System Permit unless connection is proposed to a sewer system owned by another municipality.

However, an MWRD Sewer Connection Authorization is required for all projects that involve direct connection or modification of or adjustment to MWRD facilities, or new outfalls to waterways within the City or to Lake Michigan.

Sewer Rehabilitation/Replacement/Upgrades(NRIs)

A short-form Notification and Request for Inspection (NRI) type permit may be used for existing sewer-related work such as sewer rehabilitation/reconstruction/repair/replacement work, including sewer lining and point repair work, lift station capacity changes, and installation of manholes or catch-basins on existing sewer lines. For emergency repair work such as to restore sewer service after a sewer collapse, the MWRD Local Sewer Systems Field Office (708.588.4055) should be contacted before repair, and must be contacted before backfilling, to arrange for work inspection; and a completed NRI form must be submitted afterward the work as soon as possible.

An NRI permit may also be used for installation of external grease traps or triple basins and related sewerage. It may also be used for sewer service lines for new additions to existing buildings where the length of the new sewer line is less than 25 feet, provided that no new connection is being made to the public sewer main, and/or that MWRD stormwater detention requirements do not apply to the project, in which case a standard Sewerage System Permit will be required.

Permit Fees Please refer to the info sheet below for permit/NRI fee applicability.

Request for Revisions to Issued Permits Requests for sewer design-related revisions to existing permits prior to completion of sewer work under the permit, or to make minor changes to stormwater detention facilities, must include:

	A letter from the design engineer of the permit describing the design changes and the reason for the changes, submitted to Maureen Durkin, Supervising Civil Engineer of the Local Sewer Systems Section.
	A letter from the municipal/system engineer of the permit granting approval of the changes.
	Four (4) copies of revised design drawings, with each sheet signed and sealed by the permit design engineer of record (only those plan sheets that are changed).
	Four (4) copies of all revised permit documents signed and sealed by the permit design engineer of record (if applicable).
	Permit revision fee payment $250.00 plus $5.00 per linear foot of additional sewer length. Fees are waived for governmental sewer projects for essential services (public sewer mains, laterals for fire/police stations, libraries, etc.).

Permit Inquiries

Feel free to contact the MWRD Local Sewer Systems Section with any questions regarding sewer permit applicability, sewer permit application procedure and submittal requirements, related ordinance requirements, etc. by dialing 312.751.3255. You may be asked to submit a sketch, site plan, and/or letter to describe details of the project in order to enable us to properly answer your questions. To request a copy of an issued permit, please follow the procedure described here.

Forms

Click on an Appropriate Link to Download
(Microsoft Word Format) Required Form.

Click here to download or view
"MWRD General Notes"
This must appear on engineering plans
submitted with sewer permit applications.

SEWERAGE SYSTEM PERMIT APPLICATION
Sewer Permit Fees	Fees	(1 page)
Fee Payment Voucher Form	Voucher Form	(1 page)
Sewer Permit Application Checklist	Checklist	(1 Page)
Sewerage System Permit Application	Permit (Schedules A, B & C)	(8 Pages)
Detention Facilities	Schedule D	(2 Pages)
Lift Station and/or Force Main	Schedule E	(1 Page)
Characteristics of Waste Discharges	Schedule F	(1 Page)
Treatment or Pre-treatment Facilities	Schedule G	(2 Pages)
Certification Relative to Compliance with Art. 4-1, 6-2d, & 6-3b	Schedule H	(1 Page)
Affidavit Relative to Compliance with Art. 4-1, 6-2d, & 6-3b	Schedule J	(1 Page)
Affidavit of Disclosure of Property Interest	Schedule K	(2 Pages)
Notice of Requirements for Storm Water Detention	Schedule L	(2 Pages)
Green Infrastructure Guidelines	PDF file	(2 Pages)
STANDARD DRAWINGS:
Dog House Type Manhole	PDF - PIC	(1 Page)
Drop Manhole Detail	PDF - PIC	(1 Page)
MWRD Manhole Connection	PDF - PIC	(1 Page)
MWRD Manhole Connection	AutoCAD Drawing
STORMWATER DETENTION DESIGN:
Determining stormwater detention allowable release rate and required detention storage.	PDF file	(4 Page)
Design of outflow control devices of stormwater detention facilities.	PDF file	(10 Pages)
Stormwater Detention: Orifice Formula Coefficients	PDF file	(1 Page)
Runoff Coefficients	PDF file	(1 Page)
MISCELLANEOUS FORM:
Request for Final Inspection	Form	(2 Pages)
MISCELLANEOUS OTHER PERMIT APPLICATIONS
Sewer Replacement Notification and Request for Inspection (NRI)	Form	(2 Pages)
Sewer Connection Authorization within City of Chicago	Form	(4 pages)

Sewer Permit Ordinance

An Ordinance regulating the issuance of permits for construction, operation and maintenance of sewers, sewerage systems, treatment facilities and sewer connections designed to discharge directly or indirectly into collection and treatment facilities of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago or into waters within the territory, hereafter to be known as "The Sewer Permit Ordinance". Click here to download or view "The Sewer Permit Ordinance."

Manual of Procedures

The Manual of Procedures for the Administration of the Sewer Permit Ordinance is an Ordinance providing minimum engineering standards for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of sewers, sewerage systems, treatment facilities and sewer connection designed to discharge directly or indirectly into collection and treatment facilities of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago or into waters within the territory, supplementing the Sewer Permit Ordinance. Click here to download or view "The Manual of Procedures."

Permits are required for all construction of sewers and sewerage facilities within the territorial boundaries of the District, whether such construction is on private or public property.