Algae Biomass Organization

Innovation Collaboration of the Year Award, 2020

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’s Berry Lane Stormwater Improvement Project, 2023

American Society of Civil Engineers - Illinois Section

Sustainability in Civil Engineering Achievement Award for the Buffalo Creek Reservoir Expansion Project, 2022

Chicago Metropolitan Agency For Planning (CMAP)

CMAP Regional Excellence Award in the category of Regional Resilience: Buffalo Creek Reservoir, 2021

Environmental Systems Research Institute

Special Achievement in Geographic Information System (SAG) Award, 2019

Friends of the Chicago River

• Chicago River Blue Award for work on the Natalie Creek Flood Control Project, 2022
• Silver Ribbon Award with Army Corps of Engineers and Chicago Park District for North Branch Dam Removal Project, 2019

Funders Network

Partners for Places Award for Space To Grow: Greening Chicago Schoolyards, 2020

Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada

• Budget document recognized for Distinguished Budget Presentation, 2023-2019
• Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the MWRD Retiree Health Care Trust - Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Years 2019 through 2022, 2022-2019
• Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting - Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Years 2019 through 2022, 2022-2019
• Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the MWRD Retirement Fund - Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Years 2019 through 2022, 2022-2019

Illinois Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management

Stormwater Management Award, 2021

Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

Nomination for the Secretary of Defense Freedom Award, 2021

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 who 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
• Best Presentation Award: A Reduction in Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products in Class A Biosolids by Open Composting, 2019

Lake County Stormwater Management Commission

Best Management Practice Project of the Year for the Buffalo Creek Reservoir Expansion Project, 2019

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender Chamber of Commerce

Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year, 2021

National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), formerly known as Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies

• Excellence in Management Platinum Recognition Award, 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
• NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Platinum Award for 30 consecutive years of full compliance for Calumet Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 25 consecutive years of full compliance for Lemont Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 17 consecutive years of full compliance for James C. Kirie Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 16 consecutive years of full compliance for Terrence J. O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 14 consecutive years of full compliance for Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant; and Platinum Award for eight consecutive years of full compliance for John E. Egan Water Reclamation Plant, 2021
• NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Gold Award for Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, 2021
• NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Platinum Award for 29 consecutive years of full compliance for Calumet Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 24 consecutive years of full compliance for Lemont Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 16 consecutive years of full compliance for James C. Kirie Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 15 consecutive years of full compliance for Terrence J. O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 13 consecutive years of full compliance for Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant; and Platinum Award for seven consecutive years of full compliance for John E. Egan Water Reclamation Plant, 2020
• NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Gold Award for Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, 2020
• NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Platinum Award for 28 consecutive years of full compliance for Calumet Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 23 consecutive years of full compliance for Lemont Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 15 consecutive years of full compliance for James C. Kirie Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 14 consecutive years of full compliance for Terrence J. O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 12 consecutive years of full compliance for Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant; and Platinum Award for six consecutive years of full compliance for John E. Egan Water Reclamation Plant, 2019
• National Environmental Achievement Award (NEAA) in the Operations & Environmental Performance Category, 2019

National Institute of Governmental Purchasing

Quality Public Procurement Department (QPPD) Accreditation (formerly known as "Outstanding Agency Accreditation Award." Accreditation certification is valid for three years from the day of award), 2024-2021

Peoples Gas

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

United States Minority Contractor Association

Legacy Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion, 2019

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
• Patent for Production of Carbon-Based Compounds from Cellulosic Feedstock Fermentation; Application Number 62/965,592, 2020

Water Environment Federation

• Utility of the Future Today Recognition, 2023
• Utility of the Future Today Recognition, 2020
• Public Communication & Outreach Program Award, 2020
• Ralph Fuhrman Medal for Outstanding Water Quality Academic-Practice Collaboration, 2020

Water Research Foundation

Outstanding Subscriber Award for Applied Research, 2022