The Board of Commissioners at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) has adopted a landmark Strategic Plan to guide the MWRD through 2030 with goals that will yield generations of protection for the region’s water environment. 

The plan focuses on four critical areas where the MWRD must excel: (1) wastewater and stormwater management, (2) business resilience, (3) resource development and management, and (4) proactive evolution. Each pillar outlines specific objectives for the next five years, including improvements to the MWRD’s operations and processes, enhanced financial agility, and the ability to meet new environmental and regulatory requirements.

The strategic plan systematically breaks down these objectives into specific key results and targets and initiatives to help the MWRD organize, measure, and achieve its goals. To view the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, visit mwrd.org/strategic-plan. 

“We thank everyone on our Board of Commissioners, our staff, steering committee, partners and members of the public who engaged with us and brought this plan to reality,” said MWRD President Kari K. Steele. “What we have created is a plan that is both responsive and forward-looking to protect our environment and promote excellence for our organization and the communities we serve. It is a living document that will bring out the best in the MWRD and improve our region for generations.” 

Along with the objectives outlined in the Strategic Plan are new vision and mission statements. The MWRD vision was redefined as “to champion clean water and sustainable communities,” while the mission statement now reads: “To protect Lake Michigan and public health, improve our water environment, and build flood resilience.”  

The plan was formally adopted after over a year of public input, surveys, and a lengthy development and review process by staff and leadership to ensure each objective is clear, feasible, and aligns with the MWRD’s vision, mission and values. The result is a living document that plots a course for a brighter future for Chicago, the 128 surrounding communities that the MWRD serves across 882 square miles, and the water that flows downstream. 

“The Strategic Plan represents a 21st century commitment to innovation, sustainability, and collaboration with the public,” said MWRD Vice President and Strategic Plan Co-Chair Patricia Theresa Flynn. “It sharpens our ability to protect the water environment and positively impact those we serve. We look forward to fulfilling the bold and critically important objectives that are documented in this plan.”