Innovation of traditional technology sparks MWRD to channel cleaner Chicago waterways

New disinfection technology from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) will push the Chicago region one step closer to direct contact of local waterways in time for boating recreation season. The MWRD Board of Commissioners, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen, other elected officials, local leaders and representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gathered Wednesday to mark this new era of cleaner waterways with a ribbon cutting at the O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) in Skokie.

The MWRD’s O’Brien WRP introduced ultraviolet (UV) radiation to disinfect water as a final layer to its treatment
process to reduce pathogenic bacteria in the water being released from the plant into the North Shore Channel.