The fountain is named after Nicholas J. Melas, a former MWRD commissioner elected in 1962 and who remained with the MWRD for 30 years, serving as president for 18 years.

Guests of all ages may take an abbreviated tour of the plant, meet with MWRD staff for interactive activities and take home free oak tree saplings, milkweed and native wildflower seeds to support stormwater management.

MWRD Commissioners and staff met with key Illinois state legislators, focusing on ways to strengthen the MWRD’s capacity to manage stormwater, advance wastewater treatment, and boost overall operational efficiency in managing the flow of water for Chicago and 128 municipalities that the MWRD serves.

Applications are open for municipalities and local government entities to partner with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) on a variety of stormwater management projects to mitigate community flooding throughout Cook County.

MWRD commissioners and staff raised the Juneteenth flag at its facilities to celebrate liberty, inclusion and the pursuit of justice for the diverse populations it serves across Cook County. The MWRD raised the Juneteenth flag on June 15 at all seven of its water reclamation plants as well as their headquarters at the Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building, 100 E. Erie St., Chicago.

Leaders from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) joined Robbins Mayor Darren E. Bryant, Robbins trustees, member of the Robbins Eagles football club and residents on Saturday to celebrate the new Rocky Clark Legacy Field in Robbins, a project made possible by the transformative stormwater improvements underway at the MWRD’s nearby Robbins Heritage Park and Midlothian Creek Restoration Project.

Guests took home free oak tree saplings, milkweed and native wildflower seeds to support stormwater management and the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly and other pollinators.

Villar delivered a compelling keynote that intertwined his family’s immigrant journey, a legacy of labor activism and the enduring power of cross‑racial solidarity in the American labor movement.

This year’s theme is “Water Connects Us, Pride Unites Us.”

With impending rain, the MWRD encourages area residents and business owners to reduce water use during and after the storm to help prevent flooding and protect water quality.