Leadership
Led by a champion for clean water.
Precious Brady-Davis was appointed to the MWRD by Governor JB Pritzker in July 2023 and elected as Commissioner in 2024 — the first Black openly trans woman appointed and elected to public office in Cook County history. She advocates for protecting Lake Michigan’s water supply and advancing green infrastructure to enhance community resilience and prevent flooding across Cook County.
The full Board of Commissioners
Upcoming Board Meetings
Sep
17
Board Meeting
Thursday, September 17, 2026 · 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
100 E. Erie St., Chicago, IL 60611
Oct
1
Board Meeting
Thursday, October 1, 2026 · 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
100 E. Erie St., Chicago, IL 60611
Past Board Meetings
Sep
3
Board Meeting
Thursday, September 3, 2026 · 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
100 E. Erie St., Chicago, IL 60611
Meeting summary
Attendance: 7 of 9 commissioners present (Precious Brady-Davis and Marcelino Garcia absent)
Resolutions Adopted
- Recognition of September 16th as Mexican Independence Day
- Recognition of the Chicago River Swim
Finance Committee
- Cash disbursements for July 2026: $46,528,728.16
- Travel expenses approved: $3,148.09
Procurement Committee
- Advertised contracts totaling approximately $50+ million, including pavement removal/replacement ($5.2M–$6.3M), hydroelectric turbine rehabilitation at Lockport ($18.5M–$22.4M), and sewer rehabilitation ($2.7M)
- Multiple purchase orders issued, including green infrastructure consulting services ($1.6M), green infrastructure planning services ($1.75M), elevator maintenance contracts (~$4.3M combined), and cyber insurance ($114,989)
Real Estate Development
- Multiple easement agreements approved for stormwater management and pipeline projects
- Payments authorized for land easements in Worth Woods Flood Control Project
Deferred Items
- Strategic Plan 2026-2030 (deferred by Commissioner Sharon Waller)
- Worth Woods flood control project easement approval (deferred by Commissioner Sharon Waller)
Est. 1889 · The District
A responsive neighbor
since 1889.
Established in 1889, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) is an award-winning, special-purpose district responsible for treating wastewater and providing stormwater management for residents and businesses in its service area, which encompasses 882.1 square miles and includes Chicago and 128 suburban communities throughout Cook County.
We strive to be a responsive neighbor that engages with the public on several critical water-related issues that improve the quality of life for all — from the largest water reclamation plant in the world to the rain garden down your block.
Our mission
MWRD will protect the health and safety of the public in its service area, protect the quality of the water supply source (Lake Michigan), improve the quality of water in watercourses in its service area, protect businesses and homes from flood damages, and manage water as a vital resource for its service area.
See it for yourself
Go behind the scenes at a water reclamation plant — in person or from your couch.
Below the Surface · By the Numbers
The scale of the work.
1.44B
Gallons per day the Stickney plant can treat during heavy rainfall
882.1
Square miles served — Chicago plus 128 suburban communities
7
Water reclamation plants, including the largest in the world
109+
Miles of Deep Tunnel, plus three major reservoirs, guarding against floods
560
Miles of intercepting sewers and force mains, with 23 pumping stations
12.72M
Population equivalent served daily across the district
300 Feet Down · The Deep Tunnel
A million gallons
a minute.
The Stickney Water Reclamation Plant treats about 700 million gallons of wastewater on an average day — and during heavy rain, that surges to 1.44 billion gallons in a single day. That’s a million gallons every minute. The clean water returns to local waterways, and removed sludge becomes biosolids, a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizer.
Below the city, TARP’s 109+ miles of tunnels and three major reservoirs quietly catch the storm — keeping rivers cleaner and basements drier across Cook County.