Report - Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND RESEARCH DIVISION
The Environmental Monitoring and Research Division (EM&RD) has 65 employees, and
is comprised of five Sections, viz.,
1. Administrative
2. Wastewater Treatment Process Research
3. Biosolids Utilization and Soil Science
4. Analytical Microbiology and Biomonitoring
5. Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality
The major areas of focus of the Division were as follows:
• Monitoring the environmental quality of Lake Michigan, area rivers and
canals, and the Illinois River to document the effectiveness of the District's
wastewater treatment program.
• Assisting in the resolution of wastewater treatment and solids management
operation problems.
• Providing technical assistance to other departments and agencies with respect
to issues related to wastewater treatment; combined sewer overflow (CSO)
management; waterways management; and solids processing, utilization, and
marketing.
• Conducting applied and operations research to achieve improvement and cost
reductions in District wastewater treatment, waterways management, and
solids processing and biosolids utilization activities.
• Assessing the impacts of new or proposed regulations on District activities,
with particular focus on the impacts to the District, of the proposed water
quality standards for the CAWS that were submitted to the IPCB by the
!EPA.
Administrative Section
The Administrative Section provides technical guidance, scientific review, and
administrative support for the work being carried out by the EM&RD staff. The Section also
organizes a monthly seminar series, open to all District employees, which presents information
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