About MWRD

Did you know…

MWRD manages waste and storm water, not drinking water or pipe infrastructure.

MWRD’s Board consists of 9 commissioners who represent the entire District for a 6-year term.

The MWRD has a budget of $1.4 billion. 

The MWRD owns approximately 24,000 acres of land and is the second largest land owner in Cook County.

Every 2 years, on a rotating basis, the terms of 3 commissioners expire. In 2026, the terms of Cameron Davis, Eira Corral-Sepulveda, and Precious Brady-Davis (who was elected to finish Kim DuBuclet’s term) will expire.

There will also be an election for the remaining two years of Mariyana Spyropoulos’ term.

MWRD’s Mission – Preserve Our Waterways

Normally, MWRD routes sewage and rain water through treatment plants to remove large debris and grit until it is safe to be released into the Chicago River. However, when the sewer system becomes overwhelmed, like during heavy rainfall, MWRD bypasses the treatment plants and sends untreated sewage and rainwater directly in to the Chicago River.

While the river does not normally flow into Lake Michigan, every time it rains, the river is at risk of flooding. To prevent this, MWRD sometimes opens the barrier between the lake and the river, causing the untreated sewage from the river to pollute Lake Michigan.

MWRD’s Mission – Prevent Flooding

Many of the sewers in Cook County accept both wastewater and rainwater. When it rains, the sewers get backed up and many of us experience flooding in our basements and streets because the mixture of rainwater and sewage has nowhere else to go.