19.01.2015 Views

Budget Message / Highlights - Metropolitan Water Reclamation ...

Budget Message / Highlights - Metropolitan Water Reclamation ...

Budget Message / Highlights - Metropolitan Water Reclamation ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT OF GREATER CHICAGO<br />

2009 BUDGET<br />

<strong>Budget</strong> <strong>Message</strong> / <strong>Highlights</strong><br />

The following pages summarize the major policies, on-going programs, and initiatives that directed the development of the<br />

District's 2009 annual budget.<br />

Mission Statement and Operational Goals and Accomplishments<br />

The District will protect the health and safety of the public in its service area, protect the quality of the water supply source<br />

(Lake Michigan), improve the quality of water in watercourses in its service area, protect businesses and homes from flood<br />

damages, and manage water as a vital resource for its service area. The District’s service area is 883.5 square miles of Cook<br />

County, Illinois. The District is committed to achieve the highest<br />

standards of excellence in fulfilling its mission.<br />

To protect the health and safety of its residents: The District is<br />

dedicated to comply with environmental regulations governing<br />

discharges to air, land and water, and assists first-responders in<br />

handling threatening incidents and hazardous waste spills.<br />

To protect the quality of Lake Michigan water: The District has<br />

successfully eliminated all sewage discharges to Lake Michigan and<br />

strives to minimize discharges to the lake caused by excessive rainfall<br />

runoff. To continue to protect Lake Michigan, our region’s fresh<br />

drinking water supply, and protect the public health, the District will<br />

continue to monitor potential sources of discharges that may threaten<br />

Lake Michigan and will minimize stormwater discharges to the lake<br />

through careful operation of the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP)<br />

project and the waterway system.<br />

To improve the water quality of area waterways: The District will<br />

cost-effectively collect and treat approximately 519 billion gallons of<br />

wastewater from businesses and homes and captured stormwater<br />

runoff from its service area. Our performance for treating this<br />

wastewater approaches 100 percent compliance with all applicable<br />

effluent standards at all water reclamation plants (WRPs). The District<br />

also employs strategic planning to provide for adequate facilities to<br />

meet this operational goal into the future. The District has completed<br />

and operates the tunnel portion of TARP, comprising 109.4 miles of<br />

tunnels and dewatering pumping stations. The tunnels capture a<br />

majority of the area’s combined sewer overflow (CSO) pollution load. The District operates one TARP reservoir serving the<br />

northwest suburban area and is working on the design and construction of two large reservoirs serving the remainder of the 375<br />

square-mile combined sewer area in the District’s 883.5 square-mile service area.<br />

To control commercial and industrial waste discharges to the sewers and waterways: The District effectively eliminates<br />

offensive or dangerous discharges into the public sewer system through the administration of the Sewage and Waste Control<br />

Ordinance that specifies limits on the quantity and quality of wastes discharged by Industrial Users as required by USEPA<br />

Regulations. The discharges, unless properly controlled and treated,<br />

could interfere with our treatment processes and adversely impact<br />

waterways.<br />

Calumet River at Torrence Avenue, SEPA Station No. 1 in center<br />

Stony Island Avenue Biosolids Drying Site in background<br />

Drainage from the Chicago watershed was redirected to the<br />

Des Plaines River and away from Lake Michigan in 1900,<br />

thereby protecting the drinking water supply.<br />

To maintain our facilities and infrastructure to ensure that they<br />

remain an asset to the residents of the District: The District owns<br />

and operates 7 modern and effective WRPs, 554 miles of<br />

intercepting sewers and force mains, 23 pumping stations, and 35<br />

flood control reservoirs. Through preventive maintenance<br />

management, modernization, rehabilitation, and planned<br />

replacement, the District will ensure the long-term reliability and<br />

cost-effectiveness of operations. Facility improvement master plans<br />

covering the next 35 years have been prepared for the Calumet,<br />

North Side, and Stickney WRPs. Plans for the Lemont WRP are<br />

being developed to replace the plant with a pumping station and 10<br />

mile force main to the Stickney WRP.<br />

13<br />

13

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!