Cook County residents who have ever wondered where that last drop of water ends up after it funnels down their drains or is flushed down a toilet have an opportunity to see how it is transformed into clean water. On May 21, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) will open six of its water reclamation plants (WRPs) for a series of special open houses and tours. The open houses are taking place in conjunction with the Value of Water Coalition's Infrastructure Week (May 16 to 23), which sheds light on the importance of maintaining and modernizing the nation's infrastructure. Besides offering visitors an exclusive look at its plant operations, the MWRD will also be promoting its efforts in improving regional storm water management by giving away hundreds of free potted oak tree saplings to restore the region's depleted canopy and help reduce flooding.
Visitors to the MWRD's plants can learn how the MWRD is recovering resources and transforming water at these facilities. The MWRD, which owns and operates the largest water reclamation plant in the world at Stickney WRP, treats more than 1.4 billion gpd, and has the capacity to treat more than 2 billion gpd. The MWRD serves 10.35 million people in an 883.6-sq-mile area of Cook County, which includes Chicago and 128 suburban communities.
Across the country, water treatment agencies and members of the Value of Water Coalition in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles and Cleveland are hosting tours during Infrastructure Week. Participating agencies will tell the story about why water infrastructure matters to their communities and the nation, and show how they are securing a sustainable water future. Infrastructure Week 2016 is led by a steering committee consisting of the AFL-CIO, the American Society of Civil Engineers, Building America's Future, Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program, the National Assn. of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Value of Water Coalition.
Learn more about Infrastructure Week at www.infrastructureweek.org. Follow the conversation on Twitter, @InfraWeek and #InfrastructureMatters
Source: MWRD
