Hosting the world’s experts on water, sharing their knowledge and putting it on display in competition and in the community, commissioners and staff at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) made their presence known at the Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC). In the process, the MWRD was named a “Leading Utility of the World.” This distinguished title was one of many highlights from a busy week for water professionals at McCormick Place and throughout the Chicago area from Sept. 26 to Oct. 1. 

WEFTEC is the largest annual water quality exhibition in North America and offers water quality professionals with education and training in both the private and public sectors as well as student scholars seeking careers in the industry. Since its formation in 1928, WEF has been holding annual meetings that serve as a forum for knowledge and technology exchange within the water and wastewater fields. WEF, with its more than 30,000 members and 75 affiliated member associations, has made Chicago its home on a biennial basis, bringing industry and intelligent conversation to McCormick Place. 

This focus on water also flowed into the Chicago area. The MWRD hosted several tours over the week, welcoming dignitaries and experts from all over the world to the Mainstream Pumping Station, McCook Reservoir, the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant and Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, considered one of the largest wastewater treatment facilities in the world. The Stickney plant became home for a range topics of discussion and presentations that covered nitrous oxide emissions and communications with public officials on water reclamation.

The MWRD also joined water professionals at Ida B. Wells Preparatory Elementary School in the Bronzeville neighborhood to host WaterPalooza Educational Fair to educate and engage students with information and activities focused on the water environment. Water professionals then turned their sights on building a new pollinator garden at Aldridge Elementary School in the Altgeld Gardens neighborhood near the MWRD’s Calumet Water Reclamation Plant. Opportunities like this educate students and enhance community and schoolyard spaces to improve stormwater management, while also providing shelter and homes for pollinators. View the garden project. 

President Steele offered welcoming remarks at the grand opening session, and staff and commissioners participated in numerous panels. MWRD’s Second City Sewer Crew took to the stage to perform in a series of simulated exercises in competition with dozens of other water utilities demonstrating their strength and precision in events covering process control, laboratory work, maintenance, collections and safety. For their efforts, the team took home second place in the process control event.

Leadership and innovation in the water sector took center stage at the WEFTEC Utility Leaders Afternoon and Awards Ceremony, in which the MWRD and Austin Water were named the two latest utilities to join a prestigious group of 82 Leading Utilities of the World. The program brought together executives and senior managers for dialogue on the most pressing issues facing utilities today and shed light on how utilities like the MWRD are changing industry for the better.

In her acceptance speech, President Steele presented to the audience three challenges facing the MWRD, including climate action, community engagement and nutrient management, and how the MWRD has addressed them, while also outlining plans and challenges for the future, such as stressed funding sources, workforce development and preparing for climate change.

MWRD Managing Civil Engineer Lou Storino became the third MWRD employee in the program’s history to be installed as a WEF Fellow. Also honored were former MWRD Commissioner and state Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet (5th Dist.) who received the Public Officials Award and WTTW reporter Patti Wetli who received the WEF Journalism award. 

MWRD Chairman of Finance Marcelino Garcia presented on watershed management and climate resiliency, Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis provided an address to an LGBTQ+ session, and President Steele and the MWRD Board of Commissioners hosted a Learning Exchange which covered topics that included: climate resilience and mitigation, water quality innovation, resource recovery, community engagement and global knowledge exchange, environmental justice, and policy and regulatory foresight. New this year, the MWRD hosted a booth on the exhibition floor that promoted its work protecting Chicago’s famed water resources and showcased the MWRD’s world-renowned Tunnel and Reservoir Plan. 

“These panels, awards, presentations, Operations Challenges, and peer-to-peer exchanges explore important topics like workforce development, climate resilience, equity, community engagement and digital innovation,” said Vice President Flynn. “By bringing so many water professionals together, we improve our community and innovate together to develop essential skills and technology that shape the utilities of tomorrow.”