Awards and Achievements Recognition for the Five-year Period, 2022-2018
| Algae Biomass Organization | 2020 | Innovation Collaboration of the Year Award |
| American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois | 2018 | Engineering Excellence Merit Award for the Mayfair Reservoir Expansion Project |
| American Public Works Association | 2018 | Chicago Metro Chapter Suburban Branch: Public Works Project of the Year Award for the Niles Flood Relief Project |
| American Society of Civil Engineers - Illinois Section | 2022 | Sustainability in Civil Engineering Achievement Award for the Buffalo Creek Reservoir Expansion Project |
| 2018 | Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award, Over $100 Million Category, for the McCook Reservoir | |
| American Society of Landscape Architects - Illinois Chapter | 2018 | Merit Award for Planning and Analysis for the Robbins Park Project |
| Chicago Metropolitan Agency For Planning (CMAP) | 2021 | CMAP Regional Excellence Award in the category of Regional Resilience: Buffalo Creek Reservoir |
| Environmental Systems Research Institute | 2019 | Special Achievement in Geographic Information System (SAG) Award |
| Friends of the Chicago River | 2022 | Chicago River Blue Award for work on the Natalie Creek Flood Control Project |
| 2019 | Silver Ribbon Award with Army Corps of Engineers and Chicago Park District for North Branch Dam Removal Project | |
| Funders Network | 2020 | Partners for Places Award for Space To Grow: Greening Chicago Schoolyards |
| Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada | 2022-2018 | Budget document recognized for Distinguished Budget Presentation |
| 2021-2018 | Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the MWRD Retiree Health Care Trust - Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Years 2018 through 2021 | |
| 2021-2018 | Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting - Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Years 2018 through 2021 | |
| 2021-2018 | Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the MWRD Retirement Fund - Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Years 2018 through 2021 | |
| Illinois Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management | 2021 | Stormwater Management Award |
| 2018 | Legislative Award for the Watershed Management Ordinance | |
| Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve | 2021 | Nomination for the Secretary of Defense Freedom Award |
| Illinois Water Environment Association | 2022 | 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 |
| 2019 | Best Presentation Award: A Reduction in Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products in Class A Biosolids by Open Composting | |
| Lake County Stormwater Management Commission | 2019 | Best Management Practice Project of the Year for the Buffalo Creek Reservoir Expansion Project |
| Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender Chamber of Commerce | 2021 | Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year |
| Local Initiatives Support Corporation Chicago | 2018 | Neighborhood Development Award, in the category of: BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois Healthy Community, for the Space To Grow Partnership |
| Metropolitan Planning Council | 2018 | Burnham Award for Excellence in Planning for the Space to Grow Partnership |
| National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), formerly known as Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies | 2022 | National Environmental Achievement Award for Public Information and Education Video for “Where Does IT Go?” animation |
| 2021 | 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 | |
| NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Gold Award for Stickney Reclamation Plant | ||
| 2020 | 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 | |
| NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Gold Award for Stickney Reclamation Plant | ||
| 2019 | 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 | |
| National Environmental Achievement Award (NEAA) in the Operations & Environmental Performance Category | ||
| 2018 | NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Platinum Award for 27 consecutive years of full compliance for Calumet Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 22 consecutive years of full compliance for Lemont Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 14 consecutive years of full compliance for James C. Kirie Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 13 consecutive years of full compliance for Terrence J. O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant; Platinum Award for 11 consecutive years of full compliance for Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant; and Platinum Award for five consecutive years of full compliance for John E. Egan Water Reclamation Plant | |
| NACWA Award for Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Silver Award for Stickney Water Reclamation Plant | ||
| National Biosolids Partnership (Water Environment Federation and National Association of Clean Water Agencies) | 2018 | Ten-Year Platinum Award for the Dedication to Environmentally Sound Biosolids Management Practices |
| National Institute of Governmental Purchasing | 2024-2018 | Outstanding Agency Accreditation Achievement Award (accreditation certification is valid for five years from the day of award) |
| Peoples Gas | 2022 | Energy Efficiency Award for the heat exchanger installation and boiler removal project at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant |
| United States Minority Contractor Association | 2019 | Legacy Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion |
| United States Patent and Trademark Office | 2020 | Patent for Production of Carbon-Based Compounds from Cellulosic Feedstock Fermentation; Application Number 62/965,592 |
| Water Environment Federation | 2020 | Utility of the Future Today Recognition |
| Public Communication & Outreach Program Award | ||
| Ralph Fuhrman Medal for Outstanding Water Quality Academic-Practice Collaboration | ||
| 2018 | Project Excellence Award for the McCook Reservoir | |
| Water Research Foundation | 2022 | Outstanding Subscriber Award for Applied Research |