The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) has undertaken a review of its User Charge Program which will result in changes to the User Charge Ordinance and rate calculation methodology. Our goal is to clarify some elements of the program, improve ordinance administration and compliance, and reduce fluctuations in user charge rates from year to year.

In order to provide a forum for discussion of these aspects of the MWRD’s User Charge Program, a Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP) is being convened to review and provide input on proposed changes to the MWRD’s User Charge Ordinance and the methods employed to determine the annual user charge rates.

The MWRD and the BRP will examine a new methodology to level out changes from year to year in the recovery of the operation, maintenance, and replacement costs and the cost of administering the pretreatment and User Charge Programs.

In response to a February 28, 2012, email update on the formulation of the BRP and the overall User Charge Program reevaluation provided to the user community, the MWRD received recommendations for the BRP members from industry sectors, industry representatives, and consultants.

The MWRD selected BRP members from the list of individuals who either directly requested, or were nominated by, organizations they will represent. These organizations include the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council, the Illinois Manufacturers Association, the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois, and the Industrial Water, Waste, and Sewage Group. 

During the week of May 7, 2012, the MWRD sent letters confirming BRP appointments to all individuals who were nominated or who directly expressed an interest in participating.

If you, your company or organization were not included on the BRP but you wish to review and comment on materials submitted to the BRP later this year for review, please work through one of the organizations listed above. If you are not associated with or do not have access to any of the organizations but wish to comment on proposals that are made regarding revising the User Charge Ordinance or rate calculations, please contact Mathew Joseph.

The first meeting of the Blue Ribbon Panel will be held on June 28, 2012. 

All interested stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide public comment in the fall before the MWRD Board of Commissioners adopts any changes.

All users that are required to perform self-monitoring for user charge reporting must complete the two-page RD-920 form.

Forms are available on the MWRD’s website in printable and fill-and print formats or can be obtained as a hard copy by calling us at 312.751.3000.

Please be sure to complete all sections of the form. The certification must be signed and dated by a company official in order to be valid.

An officer from the consulting firm or laboratory that performed the sample collection and analysis and prepared the report must also sign and date the certification portion. 

The MWRD must receive the RD-920 report and supporting documentation within 30 days of the date of the last sample.

Remember to provide supporting documentation with all reports:

• Sampling log sheets
• Daily incoming water meter readings and approved privately owned meter readings
• Flow meter calibration certification
• Laboratory reports

Update - RD-920 reports are now due within 45 days of the date of the last sample.

Download a PDF copy.