The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) operates USEPA approved Pretreatment and User Charge Programs to protect the environment, public health, and recoup costs associated with the treatment of its wastewater. The Pretreatment and Cost Recovery (PTCR) group under the Monitoring and Research Department is responsible for all activities related to these programs.

Facilities within the MWRD’s service area may be subject to these programs. Contact the PTCR group for more information.

The Pretreatment Program is an USEPA approved program (40 CFR 403) designed to keep excess pollutants out of the MWRD’s water reclamation plants, area waterways, and biosolids. To do so, significant industrial users are required to apply for a discharge permit, monitor their wastewater, and comply with pollutant limits. The MWRD monitors for compliance at these facilities throughout the year and take enforcement action when a facility violates its permit.

The program is administered through the Sewage and Waste Control Ordinance. For more information, please visit our Pretreatment Program webpage.

The User Charge Program is an USEPA approved program (40 CFR 35.2140) that recovers the MWRD’s operations, maintenance, replacement, and related overhead costs directly from its Large Commercial-Industrial and Tax-Exempt Users. Such Users are classified by the PTCR group and notified in writing of their reporting and payment requirements before billing can commence. As an ad valorem tax-based program, Users may claim a property tax credit to lower their user charge payments.

The program is administered through the User Charge Ordinance. For more information, please visit our User Charge Program webpage.

The Environmental Remediation Wastewater Program is to regulate and control remediation site wastewater being discharged to the MWRD’s water reclamation plants. Like the Pretreatment Program, remediation sites discharging to the MWRD must meet pollutant limits and provide pollution pretreatment and flow monitoring as necessary.

The program is administered through the Environmental Remediation Wastewater Ordinance. For more information, please visit our Environmental Remediation Wastewater Program webpage.