Nearing 100 years of operation at its Terrence J. O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant in Skokie, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) is investing in a new water treatment system, one officials say will ensure cleaner water and prepare for future regulatory requirements and another century of service for more than a million people across 143 square miles to whom the plant serves every day.

The MWRD was once again recognized for its leadership in the water sector at the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC), receiving the “Utility of the Future Today” award.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new system at the O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant in Skokie. The MWRD is set to build what will be known as Battery E a nearly $400 million investment with new tanks and other infrastructure and equipment to remove phosphorus from wastewater through a biological process that helps protect downstream water quality and meets stringent water quality requirements.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for Battery E, a nearly $400 million addition to the Terrence J. O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant in Skokie that will strip phosphorus from wastewater before it reaches local waterways. The new battery, the fifth at the 97-acre facility at 3500 Howard St., will use a biological process to remove the nutrient rather than relying solely on chemical treatment, protecting downstream water quality and meeting stringent new requirements.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago on Thursday held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new system at the O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant in Skokie. The district is set to build what will be known as Battery E — a nearly $400 million investment with new tanks and other infrastructure and equipment.

For The Love of Water (FLOW) is a summary of news from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.