Springfield legislative visit promotes water quality collaboration between MWRD and Illinois General Assembly

Leaders from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) traveled to Springfield last week to build support and collaboration in their work to protect the region's water environment.

The Illinois General Assembly (ILGA) created the MWRD in 1889 through an Enabling Act (Act) that first authorized the then-Sanitary District of Chicago to reverse the flow of the Chicago River. Since then, the MWRD and the ILGA have developed a strong relationship driven by a commitment to public health and responsible stewardship of water resources that flow beyond Cook County eventually downstream to the Illinois River and Mississippi River. This partnership requires continued engagement to meet new challenges through amendments to the Act that help the MWRD manage an unpredictable flow of water now facing the effects of climate change, aging infrastructure and emerging contaminants.

"We thank the members of the Illinois General Assembly for taking the time to meet with us and their continued vision, support and leadership," said MWRD President Kari K. Steele. "We are all tied together across this state when it comes to protecting our important water resources."

MWRD Commissioners and staff met with key Illinois state legislators, focusing on ways to strengthen the MWRD's capacity to manage stormwater, advance wastewater treatment, and boost overall operational efficiency in managing the flow of water for Chicago and 128 municipalities that the MWRD serves. The Board engaged in productive conversations with House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch (7th District), Senate President Don Harmon (39th Dist.), Senate Minority Leader John F. Curran (41st District), House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (89th District), among others.

"There are many critically important legislative initiatives taking place in Springfield to improve and protect our great state of Illinois, and we are happy to be among them," said MWRD Chairman of Finance Marcelino Garcia. "We look forward to Legislative Day each year because the Illinois General Assembly's partnership is critical to advancing our work to protect our water environment."

On their visit to Springfield, MWRD commissioners and staff leadership discussed proposed legislation to recruit talented water professionals and water quality initiatives, such as the PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) Wastewater Citizen Protection Act that will study holding PFAS manufacturers and producers responsible for PFAS related clean-up costs that impact wastewater treatment utilities.

Through the support of state lawmakers, the MWRD has invested in major projects at its seven water reclamation plants to treat the wastewater for 5.2 million people and return it to the environment as clean water, while also completing nearly 300 stormwater management projects over the last decade to protect over 23,000 homes, businesses and buildings from flooding. The MWRD meets its daily mission through strong fiscal reserves that have earned an AAA credit rating from Fitch Ratings, and a responsible spending plan that has been honored by the Government Finance Officers Association for 50 consecutive years.

MWRD commissioners met with state lawmakers to advance new legislation that promotes sustainability and protection for the region's water environment; they also visited Illinois House and Senate leadership.