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President Kari Steele of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago joins Karen Conti in-studio to highlight what they do relating to the waterways of Chicago, including treating wastewater and managing stormwater.
Bally's Casino Apologizes After Demolition Debris Spills Into Chicago River A wall collapsed Saturday during demolition at the site of the new casino, causing discharge of non-contaminating perlite into the water, according to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Cleanup was completed Sunday. Old Town Pour House Closing After 13 Years On Wells Street The sports […]
Not everyone has noticed it, but listeners from Beverly To Edgewater have complained recently of a sulfur-like sour smell emanating in Chicago. Kevin Fitzpatrick from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago chimes in on what might be creating the smell. Host - Jon HansenGuest - Kevin Fitzpatrick Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HEREWho we areBlock Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.We amplify positive stories, cover development and local school council meetings and serve as watchdogs in neighborhoods often ostracized by traditional news media.Ground-level coverageOur neighborhood-based reporters don't parachute in once to cover a story. They are in the neighborhoods they cover every day building relationships over time with neighbors. We believe this ground-level approach not only builds community but leads to a more accurate portrayal of a neighborhood.Stories that matter to you — every daySince our launch five years ago, we've published more than 25,000 stories from the neighborhoods, covered hundreds of community meetings and send daily and neighborhood newsletters to more than 130,000 Chicagoans. We've built this loyalty by proving to folks we are not only covering their neighborhoods, we are a part of them. Some of us have internalized the national media's narrative of a broken Chicago. We aim to change that by celebrating our neighborhoods and chronicling the resilience of the people who fight every day to make Chicago a better place for all.
Kevin Fitzpatrick, Assistant Director of Engineering, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, tells Jon Hansen to talk about how the lack of rain can make sewers stagnant and create odors. Kevin also tells us some of the interesting things he has found in our sewer system.
Kevin Fitzpatrick, Assistant Director of Engineering, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, tells Jon Hansen to talk about how the lack of rain can make sewers stagnant and create odors. Kevin also tells us some of the interesting things he has found in our sewer system.
September 12, 2024 Kari K. Steele – President – Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago City Club event description: Kari K. SteeleKari K. Steele was elected November 6, 2012, to her first term as a Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) and re-elected in 2018 for a second term. […]
Kevin Fitzpatrick, Assistant Director of Engineering, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, tells Jon Hansen to talk about how the lack of rain can make sewers stagnant and create odors. Kevin also tells us some of the interesting things he has found in our sewer system.
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago President Kari K. Steele joins Lisa Dent to explain why Chicago-area residents are being asked to reduce their water usage, as heavy rain from remnants from Hurricane Beryl hits the area for the next few days. Follow The Lisa Dent Show on Twitter:Follow @LisaDentSpeaksFollow @SteveBertrand Follow @kpowell720 Follow @maryvandeveldeFollow […]
Patti's guests today are: Sharon Waller, candidate for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Tanya Atkinson of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin
On this week's episode of At Issue, WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore shines a spotlight on the primary race for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk. Conversations with the incumbent Clerk Iris Martinez & Mariyana Sypropoulos, the commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District are spotlighted as the Primary Race heats up.
Kevin Fitzpatrick, Assistant Director of Engineering with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, describes how the TARP "Deep Tunnel" project is a sustainable solution for surface water management.
Kevin Fitzpatrick, Assistant Director of Engineering with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, describes how the TARP "Deep Tunnel" project is an engineering marvel and is being replicated in other cities around the world to help the environment, control flooding, and decrease pollution. He also discusses the operating cost over the past several decades, state-of-the-art technology used, his own involvement, and more.
Mariyana Spyropoulos of Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD)
The Real History Behind Reversing the Chicago River with Mr. Dick Lanyan, who spent 48 years with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, where he became the executive director and ran the day-to-day operations - which addresses the industrial waste load equivalent for 9 million people. Very early in our American history, the potential for Chicago to be the center of an expansive water system, connecting the East and the West with its location on Lake Michigan and along the Chicago River, prompted the federal government to establish Fort Dearborn in 1803 where Chicago now sits. There is no shortage of written and digital stories about the Chicago River and how it was reversed almost 124 years ago on January 1, 1900. It is referred to as an engineering marvel – and certainly – it took engineering know-how and back breaking work to create this “Big Ditch.” But, the story of Chicago's challenges as a booming metropolis started way before the re-direction of the Chicago River and has everything to do with its location on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan and the great Chicago population boom. Further, Chicago's days of flooding are far from over related to climate change and its continued large population.
Empowering Industry Podcast - A Production of Empowering Pumps & Equipment
Charli is back with Brian Levy this week to talk waterBrian Levy is a Principal Engineer with over 20 years of experience in water reclamation and stormwater management. He has been with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago since 2003.He received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI. He received a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois and is also a Certified Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture.Brian supervises the treatment plant operations for the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant (WRP). The Stickney WRP is one of the largest wastewater treatment facilities in the world. It serves residents in the central part of Chicago and 46 other suburban communities within a 260-square-mile area. The Stickney WRP currently serves over 2.3 million people, cleans an average of 700 million gallons of wastewater per day, and can treat 1.4 billion gallons per day. Read up at EmpoweringPumps.com and stay tuned for more news about EPIC in Atlanta this November!Find us @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email podcast@empoweringpumps.com
When Josina Morita was previously on the Green Sense Show, she was Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of greater Chicago. Now she has been elected as Cook County Commissioner in the 13th District. She joined us on World Water Day to talk about water conservation, water responsibility, and the little changes we can make in our daily life to save water.
Josh Deth, founder of Revolution Brewing, talks about the basics of beer brewing and how it can be sustainable. In addition to using solar energy, recycled packaging, and rooftop beehives, Josh discusses what they do with the byproducts of the brewing process. He says spent grain is the number one byproduct, and the protein-rich hops can be used to feed cattle. Josh also explains how his brewery's byproducts help clean the city's wastewater and how the spent yeast and hops become part of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's treatment program.
Rozmawiamy z Danielem Pogorzelskim, działaczem polonijnym, nowo wybranym komisarzem w powiatowym wydziale gospodarki wodnej w metropolii chicagowskiej (Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, MWRD). Podcast "Dziennika Związkowego" powstaje we współpracy z radiem WPNA 103.1 FM - Zaprasza Joanna Trzos
The political know it alls--Jacob Kaplan and Danny P--return to talk politics. And, man, there's a lot of politics to discuss. Jacob is the executive director of the Cook County Party and Dan is the recent winner of the Democratic primary for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Kansas. Dems running ads that help MAGA candidates. What's up with Manchin and more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Debbie Reynolds “The Data Diva” talks to John H. Sudduth, Chief Information Officer, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. We discuss, his career journey in Cybersecurity and what is happening with cybersecurity at municipalities, what began his interest in privacy, insider threats to Data Privacy, the cyber risks of shadow IT, the increasing complexity of threats, his emerging privacy concerns, lack of Regulation of third-party data use, his gift of simplicity in communication and advisory, the importance of listening in executive communications, the differences in his public and private sector experience, technology that aids privacy retention, companies having a European outlook, unique challenges of municipalities in implementing privacy and their needing to deal with IoT, crosstalk between devices and abilities, the profusion of capabilities in IoT devices and his hope for Data Privacy in the future.Support the show
In this week's Deep Dive with Dorian Warren, Melissa and Dorian take an in-depth look at water insecurity, access and cleanliness. They start off with Sera Young, associate professor anthropology and global health at northwestern University. Then Josina Morita, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in Cook County about how the infrastructure bill will aid in improving water systems. Jonathan Nez, president of the Navajo Nation and Bidtah Becker, Associate attorney with the Navajo tribal utility authority join for a discussion of water issues in Indian Country, with a specific focus on Navajo Nation. Reverend Roslyn Bouier, executive director of the Brightmoor Connection Client Choice Food Pantry explains how water shut offs affect the citizens of Brightmoor in Detroit, Michigan. And finally Tom Mueller, research assistant professor of geography and environmental sustainability at the University of Oklahoma will discuss how water insecurity and plumbing poverty affects rural area. Some music from this episode by: I Think Like Midnight (http://www.ithinklikemidnight.com/) & The Sometime Boys (https://www.thesometimeboys.com/)
If you live in Cook County or the Chicago metro area and haven't heard of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, you don't know what you're missing. Whether a flooded basement or something you see floating in a river that shouldn't be there, the MWRD is the go-to agency. Toneal Jackson is the candidate who wants all constituents to know about it and how they can benefit from it. Running as a Green for a two year term, Toneal is an award-winning author, publisher, podcaster, and organizer. She is also Founder of Artists Promoting Success and I'm Glad to be a Woman also having been inducted into 40 Under 40 Young Women Professionals League, the Professional Organization of Women in Excellence Recognized also known as P.O.W.E.R., and a recipient of the I Change Nations Award. Toneal Jackson has a B.A. in Communications from DePaul University and earned her M.B.A. from University of Phoenix. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theandrewmillershow/support
Democratic Candidate Bernadette Barrett for Circuit Court Judge, 15 th Sub-Circuit & Candidate Yumeka Brown for commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District… discuss the impact of the people's voice to vote and stay informed about topics like civil rights, human rights and women's rights! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mzhiphop/message
O Milwaukee Avenue Polish Heritage Corridor rozmawiamy z pomysłodawcą inicjatywy z Danielem Pogorzelskim, obecnie polonijnym kandydatem na komisarza Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD). Podcast "Dziennika Związkowego" powstaje we współpracy z radiem WPNA 103.1 FM. Rozmawia Joanna Trzos
Early voting is underway for the June 28 primary. But sometimes you're looking at a list of names, and you don't even know what they're running for. Host Jacoby Cochran has often felt that way looking at the list of candidates for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District commissioners. What does the MWRD even do? To find out, we asked commissioner Kim Neely du Buclet, who is not up for election this year. As Jacoby mentioned, there are six cooling areas in the city. You can find out more info here. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chicago's City Council is on its way to bringing its first Asian American woman onboard. Mayor Lori Lightfoot has tapped Nicole Lee to fill the vacant 11th Ward seat. Reset learns more about Lee and what she would bring to the role. GUESTS: Heather Cherone, Chicago politics reporter for WTTW News Josina Morita, commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District; chairwoman of the Illinois Asian American Caucus
For all the people from Chicago, who, upon hearing the name Canal Shores are inspired to say, “I grew up playing there,” the 103-year-old iconic fixture and fun zone that's wedged between Evanston and Wilmette, and 10 miles north of Wrigley Field, is finally getting some much-needed resources and support. After years of a passionate band of locals making every attempt to restore the bones, implore more investment and explore every option or opportunity for a resurrection, along comes Kemper Sports. The Chicago-based management company, which is affiliated with Bandon Dunes, Streamsong, Sand Valley, Big Cedar Lodge and another 100 courses nationwide, Kemper has sunk its teeth, resources and relationships into making the Tom Bendelow original design relevant again. On 82 acres, and multiple mini parcels of land, the 3,900-yard 18-hole par 60 has been overgrown, downtrodden and, some might say, underperforming for quite some time. What is owned by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, that's leased to the towns of Evanston and Wilmette, and leased again to the Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Association, will now be managed by Kemper Sports. Green fees range between $15 and $30 dollars. It's a Youth on Course facility, so junior members of YOC can play for $5. The non-profit, which has relied heavily on donations and creative fundraising, finally has an optimistic plan for some realistic and relative success. In this podcast, you'll be hearing from Josh Lesnik, President of Kemper Sports and the original General Manager of Bandon Dunes. Lesnik grew up in the town of Winnetka, which is 15 minutes from Canal Shores. You'll hear from Karl Leinberger, President of Evanston and Wilmette Golf Course Association, which is currently managing the non-profit as a group of committed volunteers. And throughout this story, I get background and perspective from Andrew Fleming, a great friend of mine who's a former lawyer at the Golf Channel and a former employee at Kemper Sports. Fleming graduated from Northwestern, which is around the corner from Canal Shores. Charm, community, accessibility, a hyper-focus on impacting kids by way of caddie programs, as Lesnik says, "It's all there." And now it's time to make it all happen. Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing. Use promo Firepit25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order. Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down? You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella). For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
In this episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen highlight conversations with four women in water on their career journeys, women in leadership, diversity in the workplace, the role of mentorship and more. Plus, the podcast guests share advice for young professionals entering the water industry. For this episode, Johns interviewed Mariyana Spyropoulos, a member of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago's Board of Commissioners. Del Ciello spoke with Sivan Zamir, senior director of Xylem's Innovation Labs. Crossen spoke with Felicia James, associate vice president and asset management lead for Carollo Engineers and Haley Goddard, project engineer and young professionals facilitator for Carollo Engineers.
In this week's Deep Dive with Dorian Warren, Melissa and Dorian take an in-depth look at water insecurity, access and cleanliness. They start off with Sera Young, associate professor anthropology and global health at northwestern University. Then Josina Morita, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in Cook County about how the infrastructure bill will aid in improving water systems. Jonathan Nez, president of the Navajo Nation and Bidtah Becker, Associate attorney with the Navajo tribal utility authority join for a discussion of water issues in Indian Country, with a specific focus on Navajo Nation. Reverend Roslyn Bouier, executive director of the Brightmoor Connection Client Choice Food Pantry explains how water shut offs affect the citizens of Brightmoor in Detroit, Michigan. And finally Tom Mueller, research assistant professor of geography and environmental sustainability at the University of Oklahoma will discuss how water insecurity and plumbing poverty affects rural area. Some music from this episode by: I Think Like Midnight (http://www.ithinklikemidnight.com/) & The Sometime Boys (https://www.thesometimeboys.com/)
In this week's Deep Dive with Dorian Warren, Melissa and Dorian take an in-depth look at water insecurity, access and cleanliness. They start off with Sera Young, associate professor anthropology and global health at northwestern University. Then Josina Morita, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in Cook County about how the infrastructure bill will aid in improving water systems. Jonathan Nez, president of the Navajo Nation and Bidtah Becker, Associate attorney with the Navajo tribal utility authority join for a discussion of water issues in Indian Country, with a specific focus on Navajo Nation. Reverend Roslyn Bouier, executive director of the Brightmoor Connection Client Choice Food Pantry explains how water shut offs affect the citizens of Brightmoor in Detroit, Michigan. And finally Tom Mueller, research assistant professor of geography and environmental sustainability at the University of Oklahoma will discuss how water insecurity and plumbing poverty affects rural area. Some music from this episode by: I Think Like Midnight (http://www.ithinklikemidnight.com/) & The Sometime Boys (https://www.thesometimeboys.com/)
In this week's Deep Dive with Dorian Warren, Melissa and Dorian take an in-depth look at water insecurity, access and cleanliness. They start off with Sera Young, associate professor anthropology and global health at northwestern University. Then Josina Morita, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in Cook County about how the infrastructure bill will aid in improving water systems. Jonathan Nez, president of the Navajo Nation and Bidtah Becker, Associate attorney with the Navajo tribal utility authority join for a discussion of water issues in Indian Country, with a specific focus on Navajo Nation. Reverend Roslyn Bouier, executive director of the Brightmoor Connection Client Choice Food Pantry explains how water shut offs affect the citizens of Brightmoor in Detroit, Michigan. And finally Tom Mueller, research assistant professor of geography and environmental sustainability at the University of Oklahoma will discuss how water insecurity and plumbing poverty affects rural area. Some music from this episode by: I Think Like Midnight (http://www.ithinklikemidnight.com/) & The Sometime Boys (https://www.thesometimeboys.com/)
Today's guest: - Eira L. Corral Sepulveda, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
Commissioner Debra Shore of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago returns to the show to talk about the connection between climate change, extreme weather events and clean water. She andd staffer Justin Hart talk about the ongoing battle to keep the water supply in Chicago safe as well as its historical back and forth battles with Lake Michigan and the swamp land on which it was established.
Our featured guest is Mariyana Spyropoulos, a member of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago's Board of Commissioners since 2010. Mariyana recently served as Chairperson for the 3rd International Water and Waste Management Conference and Expo. She talks about the role of the MWRD and its connection to drinking water in the greater Chicago area. Also joining us on the podcast is WQA's Global Government Affairs Director David Loveday. Join us at the WQA Convention & Exposition in Las Vegas, July 28-30. Learn more and register at https://wqa.org/convention.
Native Americans held great respect for natural systems while also managing the landscape to support their people and way of life. As "civilization" came to this area Chicago became a military outpost, village, city and metropolis and its residents were confronted with the elemental and reoccurring issue of controlling water -- both fresh and waste water. Managing this cycle of use and renewal the city has over the decades repeatedly invested millions into various projects to drain the land, process waste, and modify the waterways for both sanitation and navigation. These major projects have included altering waterways, building canals, tunnels, and water works and treatment facilities to make the greater Chicago area livable and comfortable on a day-to-day basis for the millions of residents and annual visitors each year. In this episode we will discuss how Chicago came to not only reverse the Y-shaped river running through its downtown, but also the precedents and solutions to regulate fresh water, sewage, flooding, and growing needs of the population. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) formerly known as The Sanitary District was created in 1889 to manage the area's water resources and was tasked with building the Sanitary & Ship Canal to protect Lake Michigan and our source for drinking water. Toward this end we speak with Dick Lanyon who is an author, historian and retired MWRD engineer to explain this amazing story of political power and engineering genius that created the evolving regional system of water management for Chicagoland. Ellis S. Chesbrough (1813-1886)Drawing of building the water intake cribs in ChicagoDigging of the Sanitary & Ship CanalTemporary dam on the South Fork of the Chicago RiverWork on the embankmentWork on shore pilingsRemoval of the center-pier of a swing bridge in the riverA dredge at workWork on a rock section of the Sanitary & Ship CanalCanal workPreparing to fill in the canal near the stockyardsTowing barges on the canal Links to Research and Historic Sources: Books by retired MWRD engineer and historian Richard LanyonHistory of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District from their websiteBiography of engineer Elis S. Chesbrough from the ASCE websiteHistory of the Chicago Water Cribs from the Industrial History website posted Feb. 3, 2016
(S4, EP 4) Josina Morita is my special guest for this week's episode. Josina is currently serving her elected role as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in Chicago and all of Cook County which in 2016, she became the first Asian-American to do so countywide. She is also the founding chair of Asian American Leaders Caucus (AALC) in Illinois. She discussed the water injustice and inequity issues that have harmed Chicago's marginalized communities and how places like Flint to Standing Rock are examples of the growing concerns of water safety in these communities nationwide. She shared tips on how we can use best daily practices to combat environmental violence. Josina reflected on the recent progress that Asian Americans in Illinois are making in politics, and what needs to be done to dismantle current barriers for Asians in politics and civic engagement. For more on her work, please visit her FB page at www.facebook.com/josinamorita or at www.friendsofjosina.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bio: Josina Wing Morita is a Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Elected in 2016, she is the first Asian American elected to a countywide board in Cook County—the second largest county in the country which also covers all of Chicago. As an urban planner and policy advocate, Josina brings expertise in equity policy, land use, stormwater and regional planning. She is the founding chair of the Asian American Leaders Caucus. She sits on the National Blue Ribbon Commission for On-Site Non-Potable Water Systems and the bi-national Great Lakes Commission. Josina's human rights, racial justice and water justice work has been recognized locally and nationally. In 2007, she was named one of the top 35 leaders under 35 fighting racism and poverty in Chicago by the Community Renewal Society. In 2013, she received the Emerging Leader Award from the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform and the Breaking Barriers Award from the Chicago Foundation for Women. In 2016 she was named one of 50 Young Asian American Stars in Politics by Asian Fortune Magazine. In 2017 she received the Spirit of the River Award and in 2019 she was named #22 of the 40 People Who Made a Difference in the Last 40 Years by Friends of the Chicago River. And in 2018 she was recognized as a National Water Hero by WaterNow. She holds a B.A. in Sociology and International Race Relations from Pitzer College and a Masters in Urban Planning and Public Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Season 4 is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR). RSR aims to bring awareness to the tragedies, atrocities and cultural destruction that the Cambodian people endured from 1975 to 1979 under the communist Khmer Rouge regime and how that period impacts us today. With that awareness, Red Scarf Revolution advocates the silenced art, music, culture, and language, with designs that incite the resiliency of the Cambodian people. Visit their website at www.redscarfrevolution.com to check out their merch line and to learn more about their work, or follow their Instagram at red_scarf_revolution or on their Facebook. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support
WATER, a Chicago Sustainability Series Season II Dialogue held on July 24th, 2020 with Dean Alonistiotis, Chief of Staff forMWRD Commissioner Kimberly Neely du Buclet of Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater ChicagoWe discussed the intersections of water, racial and socioeconomic equity, essential workers, the impacts and pioneering research around the COVID-19 pandemic, and more.This Dialogue was conducted over Zoom, in recognition of the importance of safety and social distancing in the pandemic.Learn more about The Chicago Sustainability Series at SustainTheChi.com, and more about Commissioner du Buclet at https://mwrd.org/kimberly-neely-du-buclet and more about MWRDGC at https://mwrd.org/.
In 2015, Satchel Lang was a curious five-year-old Chicagoan who didn’t want poop’s destiny to remain such a mystery. Now 11-years-old, we catch back up with Satchel and revisit the answer to Satchel’s question that reveals how poop and pee in the Chicago area get processed by an agency called the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
House Warming Podcast, Episode 007: Election Edition - Meet MWRD Candidate Eira Corral Sepúlveda,In this episode, Sarah talks with Eira Corral Sepúlveda about her plan for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, her experience as a government servant, and the race.Eira currently serves as the Village Clerk of Hanover Park, ran for office for the first time at age 23, and has been endorsed by the Democratic Party, three major newspapers, the Sierra Club, various public officials and many more for the position of Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.Cook County residents looking to learn more about Eira can visit her website at https://www.eira4water.com/.To learn more about the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, visit its website here: https://mwrd.org/.Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the work we're doing, we can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/housewarmingpod.Support the show (http://patreon.com/housewarmingpod)
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's "Asian Carp Challenge" is a new initiative with local restaurants to feature the fish how ever they would like to in a dish. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Josina Morita explains why they started the project and where you can get a taste of Asian Carp!
Prairie Rivers Network sits down to talk with Kimberly Neely du Buclet, a commissioner for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD). We discuss what MWRD is currently doing to improve the lives of all Chicagoans, including addressing environmental racism. Commissioner du Buclet also talks about her experience as a life-long resident of the city, and how swimming in Lake Michigan and repeated household flooding inspired her to take up public office and improve water quality for all. Links: Prairie Rivers Network (www.prairierivers.org/) MWRD of Greater Chicago (www.mwrd.org) Kimberly Neely du Buclet (www.kim4water.com), Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Article: Enforcement around the Great Lakes (Chicago Tribune) Take Action: Become a member of Prairie Rivers Network and connect with a community dedicated to protecting water. And sign up for our emails so you don’t miss new podcast episodes. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com/
“We're all connected.” - Patrick Thomas (Public Affairs Specialist, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago)•A preview of WATER, the inaugural Chicago Sustainability Series Dialogue with Patrick Thomas (Public Affairs Specialist, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago) held on May 24th in support of the Environmental Law and Policy Center at Clique Studios.Featuring a panel discussion with MeLena Hessel (ELPC), Eddie Paulino (MWRDGC), Patrick Thomas (MWRDGC), and Shilpa Alva (Surge For Water).The Dialogue raised funds for the Chicago River initiatives of ELPC, and composting was provided by Healthy Soil Compost + Nature's Little Recyclers.Voter Registration conducted by Chicago Votes.Learn more about The Chicago Sustainability Series at SustainTheChi.com.
“Climate change has been making water issues really relevant to the general public.” - Eddie Paulino (Associate Civil Engineer, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago•A preview of WATER, the inaugural Chicago Sustainability Series Dialogue with Eddie Paulino (Associate Civil Engineer, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago) held on May 24th in support of the Environmental Law and Policy Center at Clique Studios. Featuring a panel discussion with Eddie Paulino (MWRDGC), Patrick Thomas (MWRDGC), Shilpa Alva (Surge For Water), and MeLena Hessel (ELPC).The Dialogue raised funds for the Chicago River initiatives of ELPC, and composting was provided by Healthy Soil Compost + Nature's Little Recyclers.Voter Registration conducted by Chicago Votes.Learn more about The Chicago Sustainability Series at SustainTheChi.com.
In other top stories this morning: the heavy rains also forced the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District opened the gates separating Lake Michigan and the Chicago River to allow millions of gallons of human and industrial waste to flow into the lake; the Willis Tower also went dark overnight as it and the surrounding area experienced flooding that knocked out power; and more.
(https://www.theh2duo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/water-in-real-life-tom-kunetz.png) Tom Kunetz is the Immediate Past President of the Water Environment Federation. He is currently the Assistant Director of Monitoring and Research for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and is also on the Board of Directors of the Water Research Foundation. He has over 35 years’ experience in the water sector as an environmental engineer. He is a registered Professional Engineer, a recipient of the Charles Walter Nichols Award for Environmental Excellence from the American Public Works Association, and a WEF Fellow. Recap: The art of having difficult conversations. Tom talks us through the steps of having conversations with people who hold different beliefs and opinions than ourselves. The value of diversity in communication styles. Tom gives us part two of the WEFTEC 2019 story he told at the Opening General Session. We discuss why speaking "human" and speaking to the emotional level of people is so important when communicating about data. Second City's role in forging Tom's place in the water industry. We talk about Matt Damon, Brave Blue World, and how lucky we are to be the ones that get to solve the global water crisis. Please consider rating the podcast with 5 stars and leaving a one- or two-sentence review in iTunes or on Stitcher. This helps tremendously in bringing the podcast to the attention of others. We give a shoutout to everyone who rates the podcast with 5 stars in future episodes. Give us some love on Twitter or Instagram and tag us @roguewaterlab or by using #WaterInRealLifePodcast If you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons on this page. Thank you for sharing some of your time with us. We know how precious those minutes are. Share your story, you never know who needs to hear it and remember, “Those who tell the stories, rule the world.”
Debra Shore, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, returns to talk about the importance of keeping our water systems functional during a time of pandemic. Nic Mink, founder and CEO of Sitka Salmon Shares, reports on the disruption to fisheries during the COVID-19 crisis.
(https://www.theh2duo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/yp-summit-recap-water-in-real-life.png) If you weren't at the 2020 YP Summit, we hate to say it but....you missed out. But never fear, we've got your covered. You already heard from Erin Mosley in EP089, we've got Tom Kunetz on deck, but we're REALLY excited for you to hear from the young professionals that were in the audience. We chat with them about the biggest takeaways, how they've applied what they learned in real life, and how they think we each can change the world. Young Professional Guests: Edward Jankun, P.E., Associate Civil Engineer, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Valette Saldanha, EIT, Project Engineer, AECOM Stephanie Hubli, Water Engineer, Woodard & Curran Chelsea Odle, Media Specialist, Central Arkansas Water Suparna Mukhopadhyay, Environmental Engineer, CDM Smith Tom Woodcock, P.E., Associate Senior Controls and Instrumentation Engineer, R.V. Anderson Associates Limited Facilitator Guests: Kristi Steiner, Associate Project Manager, Jacobs Erin Mosley, President and Founder, Erin Mosley, Inc Tom Kunetz, Past President, WEF Please consider rating the podcast with 5 stars and leaving a one- or two-sentence review in iTunes or on Stitcher. This helps tremendously in bringing the podcast to the attention of others. We give a shoutout to everyone who rates the podcast with 5 stars in future episodes. Give us some love on Twitter or Instagram and tag us @roguewaterlab or by using #WaterInRealLifePodcast If you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons on this page. Thank you for sharing some of your time with us. We know how precious those minutes are. Share your story, you never know who needs to hear it and remember, “Those who tell the stories, rule the world.”
LISTEN, SUBSCRIBE, AND RATE Every week, Indivisible Chicago Podcast host Tom Moss talks to politicians, newsmakers, academics and activists about resisting the Trump agenda. The ICP is also a great way to keep up with what’s happening in Indivisible Chicago. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or listen online at IndivisibleChicago.com/podcast. Take a minute to rate us on iTunes. It helps us get the word out about the ICP. https://apple.co/2oR4UlH INDIVISIBLE CHICAGO PODCAST SHOW NOTES FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2020 -1. On Monday, February 3, hundreds of you filled the Athenaeum Theatre for the 2020 get-out-the-vote kickoff. Indivisible Chicago Alliance board member Marj Halperin joins the podcast for a True Blue Revue Review. While the event has passed, opportunities to get involved are still plenty. Find out more at 3states1mission.com. -2. Last year, former Obama Great Lakes Czar Cam Davis won a seat on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District through an historic write-in campaign. This year, he’s on the ballot again, running for a six-year term. Cam joins the podcast to talk climate change and lake levels, renewable energy, and why we should all care about the District.Indivisible Chicago is not endorsing in this race, but more information about Cam’s campaign can be found at camdavis.org.
We play volleyball on the beach and stand-up paddle board in the lake, run miles and drink rosé along the Riverwalk. This spring, storms sprung up approximately every other day, saturating us (May was the wettest on record, since we began keeping track in 1871). It’s easy, in Chicago, to take water for granted—we’re surrounded by it. But Debra Shore, a commissioner at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago since 2006, cautions us against this carelessness, especially in the face of climate change. On this week’s episode of #WeGotGoals, Shore implores us to be more thoughtful about how we use and protect this vital resource. After all, our bodies are made up of 50 to 60 percent water, and there are more humans than ever to soak it all up. “There are no substitutes for fresh water and it's the substance on which almost all life depends,” she said. “Whether we are good stewards or not is going to be increasingly important in the future.” If you’re wondering exactly what the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is, you’re not alone—Shore admits she frequently has to explain the agency’s work. When we decided to do a segment on creating a better earth, I knew I wanted to have her on to educate us. The MWRD, as it’s known, is charged with both protecting the water we drink and reclaiming what falls from the sky. The agency’s roots go back to 1889. As Chicago’s population first began to boom, its residents dumped waste of all types—human, animal, and industrial—into the river, which flowed into Lake Michigan. Then, as now, the lake served as the source of our drinking water. “Not a good idea to put raw sewage into your drinking water,” Shore said. “And indeed, people were getting sick from cholera and typhoid and other waterborne diseases. So the city planners at the time knew that Chicago could not continue to grow if they didn't have a safe, secure source of drinking water.” Officials came up with an ingenious plan—in a brilliant feat of engineering, they dug canals that reversed the flow of the river, carrying these toxins away from the lake instead. And, they established the Sanitary District of Chicago, which would later become the MWRD, to stand guard over the drinking-water supply. Now, the MWRD oversees wastewater treatment and stormwater management for a massive 882.1-square-area encompassing Chicago and 128 suburbs. That’s a total of 10.35 million people whose hydration needs the agency meets (and whose basements it keeps from flooding). Shore’s personal interest in conservation began back in her Brownie days, where she and her troopmates collected leaves and learned about nature on hikes. Her best friend’s family brought her on frequent camping and backpacking trips to places like Colorado and New Mexico. After she moved back to her native Chicago in 1982 (she spent some time in Dallas, Baltimore, and Providence), Shore aimed to commune with the landscape around her. “I found out about a group of volunteers who go out to the Cook County Forest Preserves and engage in habitat restoration, trying to restore health to the remnant prairies and oakwoods and wetlands that are part of our precious forest preserve system,” she said. She found the work purposeful and personally therapeutic: “A writer named Bill Jordan has said that restoration is a reciprocal act, that in working to restore nature, it restores us, our bodies and our spirits. I certainly found that to be true.” That led her to help launch a quarterly publication called Chicago Wilderness in 1997, and eventually, to run for office. Those in power didn’t always listen to the on-the-ground experiences of forest preserve volunteers, she realized; she suspected that with her conservation background, she could make a difference. So she participated in a candidate training program called the Illinois Women's Institute for Leadership, through the Democratic Women in Illinois. She wasn’t sure exactly where to plug in until someone approached her in 2005 about running for a seat on the MWRD. She began harnessing her various social networks—the conservation community, the LGBTQ community, the Jewish community, and politically minded people she’d met through volunteering for presidential candidate Howard Dean—to build the support she’d need to win a countywide election. (Which she did, handily, and has then been re-elected twice since.) Assembling coalitions has also been an important part of her work as a commissioner, helping her achieve some big goals during her 12 years of service, Shore told me. One accomplishment she’s particularly proud of is an ordinance to expand a safe, secure collection program to dispose of unused or expired medicine, which otherwise pollutes our water and harms the health of humans, animals, and plants. Pharmaceutical companies weren’t in favor, in part because similar programs in other states require them to pay for these efforts to collect and dispose of the drugs. “This fits within this model called product stewardship, where the maker of a product, whether it's paint or tires or electronics, should be responsible for the whole life cycle of the product,” she said. To move the process along, Shore and her fellow board members emphasized the broad nature of the problem. “One of the things we learned is that 50 percent of the people who become addicted to prescription drugs start with the drug dealer in their own home, namely their medicine cabinet,” she said. So, they enlisted public safety experts, police and sheriff departments, and public health departments, along with representatives of the environmental community. “We had a broad and diverse coalition of people who came to the county board and provided testimony and lent their names in support of this. And it's really hard to object to something like that,” she said. If you’re inspired to do more by these types of arguments or the threat of climate change, Shore has advice for you. For one thing, vote for public officials who pledge to protect the earth. You can educate yourself by reading the annual reports Shore writes each year—they are incredibly well-crafted and engaging—and signing up for her email newsletter. There, she shares important updates as well as everyday actions we can all take to be more mindful of our water use and minimize our impact on climate change. Some she divulged on the show include: Run the dishwater only when it’s full; similarly, don’t do half-loads of laundry Collect the water that runs before your shower heats up and use it to water plants or flush toilets Cut down on car use; consolidate your errands or take public transit instead If you own your own home, switch to low-flow toilets, and consider more natural landscaping instead of a lawn Listen to the full episode for more on Shore’s journey and her practical advice, including an answer to the age-old question of whether it’s better to throw food scraps away or use your garbage disposal, if you have one. And if you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate and review the show on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts—that helps other goal-getters find the show.
In this episode, we visit the Terrence J. O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant (WRP), which is part of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago located at Howard and McCormick in Skokie. We speak with KImberly Du Buclet, one of the commissioners of the MWRD, Aruch Poonsapaya, the O'Brien WRP Operations Manager and Patrick Thomas, the public affairs specialist for the MWRD. The main portion of the Terrence J. O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) began operation in 1928 and was a model for modern sewage treatment technology. Formerly known as the North Side WRP, the plant serves today more than 1.3 million people residing in a 143-square-mile area that includes Chicago, north of Fullerton Avenue and the 17 suburbs in northern Cook County. The O'Brien WRP removes pollutants from wastewater through a series of physical and biological processes. The plant cleans an average of 230 million gallons of wastewater per day (mgd) and has the capacity to treat 450 mgd. We discuss the purpose of the MWRD which is to protect our waterways, the operation of the facility and the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP). We also talk about the vast amount of community outreach the MWRD has, including tours of their facilities. More information can be found on their website or on social media. Their website can be found here: https://www.mwrd.org I’d like to thank several people for help with today’s show. This includes my real estate brokerage, Dreamtown Realty in Evanston for helping me with the graphics for the show. I'd like to thank SparkRaw Media for the video trailers created for this episode. If listening to this podcast gave you the bug to buy or sell real estate, give me a call or go to my real estate website at http://www.aaronmasliansky.com And don’t forget to subscribe! Thank you.
Lav Varshney, who leads the Information and Intelligence Group at the University of Illinois, talks about a number of topics related to artificial intelligence. Earlier this year, Professor Varshney led a session on Blockchain and the Scientific Method at the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences annual meeting in Washington. The chief scientist for Ensaras, Inc., he and the company began working with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to develop a solution to odor complaints near their reservoir system. In 2017, Professor Varshney and his team of researchers received a $50,000 Siebel Energy Institutes seed grant to develop their project “Incentives, Choices and Analytics for Electric Vehicle Fleets in jointly managing Urban Traffic and Smart Grid.”
Kelly speaks to Cam Davis, one of 9 commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, about how the MWRD works to clean and sanitize water, how green infrastructure could improve that process, what challenges climate change presents, and how the MWRD uses innovation to reclaim not just the water but also the waste from water.
Kelly speaks to Cam Davis, one of 9 commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, about how the MWRD works to clean and sanitize water, how green infrastructure could improve that process, what challenges climate change presents, and how the MWRD uses innovation to reclaim not just the water but also the waste from water.
Episode 86: Cam Davis, Metro Water Reclamation District Commissioner LISTEN, SUBSCRIBE, AND RATE Every week, Indivisible Chicago Podcast host Tom Moss talks to politicians, newsmakers, academics and activists about resisting the Trump agenda. The ICP is also a great way to keep up with what’s happening in Indivisible Chicago. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or listen online at IndivisibleChicago.com/podcast. Take a minute to rate us on iTunes. It helps us get the word out about the ICP. https://apple.co/2oR4UlH INDIVISIBLE CHICAGO PODCAST SHOW NOTES FOR JANUARY 21, 2019 Opening: While it has not always been so in baseball, when it comes to economic supremacy in the Midwest, Chicago beat St. Louis a long time ago, and water is a big part of that story. Interview: Cam Davis had an interesting year last year. He mounted a write-in campaign to win the primary for a vacant seat on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, which he won. Survived an attempt by Rauner to subvert that election. Then won his seat outright on the November ballot. In December, he was sworn in, and now, on to the vital work of protecting Chicago’s water supply.
Joined by Chris Austin of Maven's Notebook, The Water Zone takes a look at recent water news from the Metropolitan Water District in drawing down water levels in Lake Mead, the California State Water Resources Board on urban water conservation, and whether California desalination could be a key to Arizona's water solution. Thomas Kunetz of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago also joins the program to discuss the city's water infrastructure, education programs and water treatment issues and successes. (Podcast recorded on January 10, 2019)
The Great Lakes hold 20 percent of the world's supply of surface freshwater. When urban planner Josina Morita moved from California, where a mentality of scarcity around water dominates, to Chicago, where the opposite is true, it got her thinking: How can we be good stewards of the Great Lakes, one of our most precious natural resources? How can we keep ourselves accountable to the rest of the country and the world? Josina now serves as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), which manages stormwater and sewer water for Cook County, Illinois. But the organization also sees themselves as an environmental agency, and they pilot exciting new green technologies at many of their plants. Josina describes several of them in the episode and the promising ways they're advancing the industry, saying, "The last thing anybody thinks about is drinking their own sewer water, but the technology is there, and water is becoming its own renewable resource." She and Courtney also discuss how budgets are a reflection of a community's values, why taxes make all the difference in a community's infrastructure, as well as Josina's passion for racial equity and making sure everyone has a seat at the table.
Welcome to the first episode of Talking Under Water: One water, one podcast. In this episode, your hosts Storm Water Solutions Managing Editor Lauren Baltas, Water Quality Products Managing Editor Amy McIntosh and Water & Wastes Digest Managing Editor Bob Crossen discuss a pipe-fitting mistake at a library and follow up on the current status of Cape Town as it continues to fend off Day Zero. Additionally, the editors attended a tour of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River courtesy of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. The tour included visiting the site of the Dever Water Intake Crib, several storm sewer outfalls along the river and a park along the banks that used biosolids for landscaping fertilizer. Lastly, Baltas, McIntosh and Crossen preview their June issues ahead of print.
Cameron Davis spent the entire Obama Administration as the president’s Great Lakes guy. He coordinated the implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 2012. He convened the Asian Carp Coordinating Committee, offshore wind energy policy and what was identified as “water quality and quantity policy” for the EPA. He’s our guest this week, and he tells us about the next phase of his life, in which he intends to be a Board member at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. It’s a seat vacated by the sudden death of a Board member, and because of the short time-line, a write-in election was needed. Davis got more than 50,000 write-in votes in the March 20 primary, although only 8,000 were needed. But there’s a big dispute about whether he can claim the seat since Governor Rauner appointed an ally to the seat at about the same time. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).
Josina Morita of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in Cook County, IL joins us to discuss season 2, episode 19, “Park Safety”. We talk about the role of urban planning in building equitable communities, what it’s like to run for a political office that few voters know even exists, and whether this episode changes our feelings about the department’s treatment of Jerry. We also add Patsy Mink, co-author of Title IX and the first woman of color to be elected to Congress, to our Wall of Inspirational Women.