Publications
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The MWRD creates, develops, and shares publications in classrooms, with community groups, and at outreach events. They play a crucial role in enhancing the public’s understanding of our wastewater treatment and stormwater management work, while also educating them on how they can contribute to our mission.
To request multiple copies of these publications:
- Call the Office of Public Affairs at 312-751-6633
- Email public.affairs@mwrd.org
MWRD Overview
A Utility of the Future
20-page booklet
English
Our annual agency brochure shows how the MWRD is actively developing innovative ways to recover and reuse resources removed from wastewater.
Climate Action Plan
4-page brochure
English
This overview of our Climate Action Plan details the highly ambitious steps the MWRD will take to lower its carbon footprint by 2050.
Infrastructure
Understanding Your Sewer
12-page half-size booklet
English • Español • Polski
This booklet gives an overview of the combined sewer systems in the Chicago area and explains how they work during rainstorms. It encourages our residents to become informed participants in the discussion about sewers, stormwater, and flooding, helping them understand this essential infrastructure.
Discover how the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP), often called the “Deep Tunnel,” protects Lake Michigan and the Chicago area’s waterways from pollution. This system involves deep, wide tunnels and large reservoirs that capture and store combined stormwater and sewage that might otherwise overflow into waterways.
Stormwater Management
The Green Neighbor Guide
44-page booklet
English • Español
This guide provides instructions for stormwater management projects that you can construct or install on your property, including rain gardens, permeable pavement, and rain barrels.
The Green Neighbor Guide Flyer
dual-language flyer
English & Español
This dual-language flyer provides an overview of stormwater management projects detailed in the full Green Neighbor Guide.
Water Wellness
Call 1-800-Dump to Report
Blockages, Dumping, or Odors
dual-language rack card
English • Español
This rack card features our 1-800-332-DUMP reporting hotline. Citizens can help keep our waterways clean and flowing well by reporting waterway blockages, illegal or suspicious dumping to waterways or sewers, or odors.
Scientific Research
Biological Survey of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Properties
233-page report
English
A field survey was conducted to study the plants and animals on District properties, including along the Chicago Area Water System. This survey provided valuable information that will help the District take better care of its properties. The data collected will support biodiversity and aid in planning for water resources related to District facilities in the future. The findings from these field surveys are presented in this scientific report.
Published in WEF’s Water Environment Research
- Revolving Algal Biofilm System at the MWRD Chicago Algae Research Facility: Raising algae technology to new heights
by Juan Peng, Kuldip Kumar, Martin Gross, Thomas Kunetz and Zhiyou Wen (92-5: 766–778, May 2020) - Nitrogen release and plant available nitrogen of composted and un-composted biosolids
by Olawale Oladeji, Guanglong Tian, Pauline Lindo, Kuldip Kumar , Albert Cox, Lakhwinder Hundal, Heng Zhang, Edward Podczerwinski (92-4: 1–11, October 2019) - Long‐term biosolids planning with an operational mega reservoir for combined sewer overflow‐impacted stormwater capture
by Dominic A. Brose, Peter O’Brien, Judy Moran-Andrews, Jonathan S. Grabowy, Thomas E. Kunetz, Edward W. Podczerwinski (92-1: 1–6, July 2019) - A reduction in triclosan and triclocarban in water resource recovery facilities’ influent, effluent, and biosolids following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 2013 proposed rulemaking on antibacterial products
by Dominic A. Brose, Kuldip Kumar, Anna Liao, Lakhwinder S. Hundal, Guanglong Tian, Albert Cox, Heng Zhang, Edward W. Podczerwinski (91-8: 715–721, March 2019)