American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists

• Environmental Communications Award for "Green Infrastructure Community Guide: Stormwater Strategies for Resilient Neighborhoods", 2026

American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois

• Honor Award for the Addison Creek Reservoir Project, 2025

American Public Works Association

• Chicago Metro Chapter Suburban Branch: Public Works Project of the Year Award for Mount Prospect’s Levee 37 Interior Drainage Stormwater Improvement Project and Skokie's Green Alleys Program, 2023
• Chicago Metro Chapter Southwest Branch: Public Works Project of the Year Award for the Flossmoor Berry Lane Stormwater Improvement Project, 2023

American Society of Civil Engineers - Illinois Section

• Outstanding Achievement Award in the $25 million to $100 million category for the West and Southwest Winnetka Stormwater Management Program in the Village of Winnetka, 2025
• Sustainability in Civil Engineering Achievement Award for the Lake Katherine CalSag Trailhead Parking Improvement Project in the City of Palos Heights, 2025
• Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award in the $25 million to $100 million category for the Addison Creek Reservoir in Bellwood, Illinois, 2024
• Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award in the $10 million to $25 million category for the Golf Mill Park Stormwater Mitigation Project in Niles, Illinois, 2023
• Sustainability in Civil Engineering Achievement Award for the Buffalo Creek Reservoir Expansion Project, 2022

Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists

• Outstanding Environmental and Engineering Geologic Project Award for the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan, 2025

Australia Patent and Trademark Office

• Australian Patent on Systems and Methods for Reducing Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in Wastewater by an Algal Biofilm Treatment. Certificate of Grant of Standard Patent Number 2020210809. Joint Patent issued to the Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc. and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, 2025

Friends of the Chicago River

• Chicago River Blue Award for work on the Natalie Creek Flood Control Project, 2022

Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada

• Budget document recognized for Distinguished Budget Presentation, 2026-2022
• Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the MWRD Retiree Health Care Trust - Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Years 2022 through 2025, 2025-2022
• Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting - Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Years 2022 through 2025, 2025-2022
• Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the MWRD Retirement Fund - Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Years 2022 through 2025, 2025-2022

Illinois Section American Water Works Association

• Water Ambassador Program - Gold Level Designation, 2025

Illinois Water Environment Association

• Kari K. Steele, President, is the recipient of the Public Official of the Year award. The Public Official of the Year award is presented to an elected or appointed public official that has made a documented significant contribution in the areas of clean water legislation, public policy, government service, or another area of public prominence that resulted in improvements to the water environment, 2022

International Water Association

• Climate Smart Utilities Recognition Award, Most Inspiring Achiever Category, 2024

National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA)

• NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Platinum Award for 29 consecutive years of full compliance for Lemont Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 21 consecutive years of full compliance for James C. Kirie Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 20 consecutive years of full compliance for Terrence J. O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 18 consecutive years of full compliance for Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 12 consecutive years of full compliance for John E. Egan Water Reclamation Plant; and Platinum Award for six consecutive years of full compliance for Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, 2025
• NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Gold Award for Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, 2025
• NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Platinum Award for 28 consecutive years of full compliance for Lemont Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 20 consecutive years of full compliance for James C. Kirie Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 19 consecutive years of full compliance for Terrence J. O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 17 consecutive years of full compliance for Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 11 consecutive years of full compliance for John E. Egan Water Reclamation Plant; and Platinum Award for five consecutive years of full compliance for Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, 2024
• NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Silver Award for Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, 2024
• Excellence in Management Platinum Recognition Award, 2023
• NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Platinum Award for 27 consecutive years of full compliance for Lemont Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 19 consecutive years of full compliance for James C. Kirie Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 18 consecutive years of full compliance for Terrence J. O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 16 consecutive years of full compliance for Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant; and Platinum Award for 10 consecutive years of full compliance for John E. Egan Water Reclamation Plant, 2023
• NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Gold Award for Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, 2023
• NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Silver Award for Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, 2023
• National Environmental Achievement Award for Public Information and Education Video for “Where Does IT Go?” animation, 2022
• NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Platinum Award for 31 consecutive years of full compliance for Calumet Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 26 consecutive years of full compliance for Lemont Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 18 consecutive years of full compliance for James C. Kirie Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 17 consecutive years of full compliance for Terrence J. O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 15 consecutive years of full compliance for Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant; and Platinum Award for nine consecutive years of full compliance for John E. Egan Water Reclamation Plant, 2022
• NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Gold Award for Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, 2022

National Association of Government Web Professionals

• Pinnacle and Members Choice Award for City/County Custom Website Group, 2024

National Institute of Governmental Purchasing

• Quality Public Procurement Department (QPPD) Accreditation (formerly known as "Outstanding Agency Accreditation Award"), 2026-2022

Peoples Gas

• Energy Efficiency Award for the heat exchanger installation and boiler removal project at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, 2022

Streeterville Organization of Active Residents

• Beautification Award for the renovation of the Nicholas J. Melas Centennial Fountain, 2025

United States Patent and Trademark Office

• United States Patent on Systems and Methods for Reducing Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in Wastewater by an Algal Biofilm Treatment. Joint Patent issued to the Iowa State University Research Foundation Inc., Ames, Iowa and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, 2023

Water Environment Federation

• Utility of the Future Today Recognition, 2026
• Utility of the Future Today Recognition, 2023

Water Research Foundation

• Outstanding Subscriber Award for Applied Research, 2022