Budget Message / Highlights - Metropolitan Water Reclamation ...

METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT OF GREATER CHICAGO
2009 BUDGET
facilities that are not old enough to warrant major rehabilitation, normal maintenance and repairs regularly include process
modifications and parts replacements geared toward the same ends. To ensure that materials and services used to maintain
our facilities support these objectives, the District will adopt an environmentally-responsible purchasing policy.
The effort will be directed at all levels of operations, including grass-roots efforts such as native prairie landscaping,
rain gardens, and rain barrels. These initiatives are small in scale when compared to the billions of gallons of
stormwater and sewage processed by the District, but their value lies in educating ourselves and the public about
preserving and protecting the environment.
Energy Policy
The District’s energy policy promotes sound practices of energy usage at District facilities while continuing to comply
with all operating permits. The objective of the energy policy is to establish energy management practices that promote
fiscal responsibility while encouraging conservation of our natural resources and utilization of renewable energy
sources. These practices promote the reduction of greenhouse gases by reducing District energy usage and/or by the
substitution of conventional sources with renewable resources.
Measurement criteria will be established by the
Energy Conservation Committee to gauge the
effectiveness of the energy management practices
in the development of capital projects, operations,
maintenance, and decommissioning of existing
facilities. Periodic audits (both internal and
external) will be performed by the Energy
Conservation Committee to evaluate energy use
and efficiency. Audits will also identify
improvement opportunities consistent with this
policy. Periodic training of staff will be provided to
ensure continued adherence to this policy.
Electricity is one of the District’s largest single
categories of expenditures. Through active control
of operations, we have maintained a level use of
energy in spite of the addition of necessary, but
energy-demanding facilities. Operational
economies to reduce electrical usage include
refined control of dissolved oxygen in aeration
tanks, heating and lighting efficiencies, and load
reductions during peak-load periods.
Million $
50 Heat drying
45 of biosolids
40
discontinued
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Energy Consumption in Dollars 1981 - 2009
81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 2008 2009
Est. Proj.
The District had benefited from an agreement with ComEd that held the rates charged our major plants constant for 50
years. This agreement expired at the beginning of 2007 and has compelled us to purchase electricity on the open market.
The District currently purchases electricity for a fixed rate under a three-year agreement. A two-year extension of this
agreement was recently signed with an expiration date of December 31, 2011.
Biosolids Policy (adopted March 15, 2007)
The District is committed to following the principles set forth in the National Biosolids Partnership’s (NBP) Code of
Good Practice in all aspects of its biosolids management programs:
NBP Code of Good Practice
Compliance: To commit to compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local requirements regarding operations
and reclaimed water production at wastewater treatment facility, and management, transportation, storage, and use or
disposal of biosolids away from the facility.
Natural
Gas
Electricity
TARP Mainstream
Pump Station online
SEPA stations online
1957 rate agreement
with Com Ed expired
January 2, 2007
• Product: To provide biosolids that meet the applicable standards for their intended use or disposal.
• Environmental Management System: To develop an environmental management system for biosolids that
includes a method of independent third party verification to ensure effective on-going biosolids operations.
• Quality Monitoring: To enhance the monitoring of biosolids production and management practices.
• Quality Practices: To require good housekeeping practices for biosolids production, processing, transport, and
storage and during final use or disposal operations.
2
2