What Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago does

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) is a special purpose unit of local government established in 1889 under Illinois statute, with exclusive statutory authority to treat wastewater and manage stormwater across all of Cook County, Illinois. The agency operates seven major water reclamation plants — Calumet, John E. Egan, Hanover Park, James C. Kirie, Lemont, Terrence J. O'Brien, and Stickney — which treat wastewater for the City of Chicago and surrounding suburbs using biological nutrient removal, activated sludge, and other advanced processes. MWRD's most significant infrastructure asset is the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP), a multi-billion-dollar system of deep tunnels and large reservoirs (including McCook and Thornton Composite) that captures combined stormwater and sewage to prevent combined sewer overflows, reduce flooding, and protect Lake Michigan.

MWRD's technology stack extends beyond treatment to encompass the Chicago Area Waterway System (Lockport Powerhouse, SEPA aeration stations, Centennial Fountain), biosolids resource recovery, green and gray stormwater infrastructure, industrial pretreatment regulation, and an in-house research and monitoring program based at the Lue-Hing R&D Complex. The agency partners with Argonne National Laboratory, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cook County municipalities, and various nonprofits on research, river restoration, and community education.

The business model is non-commercial: MWRD is funded primarily by property tax levies on Cook County residents and businesses, supplemented by user fees and service charges from municipalities for treatment and stormwater services. It does not operate a traditional sales motion, sets no published commercial pricing, and has no private equity, venture, or parent-company ownership. The agency sells ancillary items such as rain barrels at nominal cost and monetizes nothing via subscription or usage tiers — all revenue mechanics flow from statutory taxation and public-works channels.

Name

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Legal name

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Website

https://mwrd.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is a special purpose government agency, established 1889, that treats wastewater and manages stormwater for all of Cook County, Illinois via seven water reclamation plants and the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP), funded by property taxes and user fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wastewater Treatment and Stormwater Management Utilities

NAICS

Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Waste Treatment and Disposal (56221)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Treatment & Wet-Weather Capacity (EUANADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Detention, Retention & Storage Systems (Ponds, Tanks, Vaults) (EUANAEAD), Municipal Wastewater Collection (Sewer Networks) (BPALAMAA), Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) Utilities (Aquifer/Reservoir Augmentation) (EUANAGAB)

Keywords

• Wastewater treatment services
• Stormwater management
• Flood control infrastructure
• Water reclamation
• Biosolids management

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: As a special purpose government agency (district), MWRD receives funding through property tax levies from residents and businesses within Cook County.
2. User Fees and Service Charges: Revenue generated from treatment fees charged to municipalities and users for wastewater treatment and stormwater management services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is a special purpose government agency that treats wastewater from Cook County, Illinois through seven water reclamation plants using biological nutrient removal and activated sludge processes. It manages the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP) deep tunnel system to capture combined sewer overflows, operates extensive stormwater management and green infrastructure programs, and runs biosolids resource recovery operations to protect Lake Michigan and Chicago Area Waterway System water quality.

Product overview

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is an award-winning special purpose government agency that provides essential public water management services across Cook County, Illinois. Established in 1889, MWRD operates as a unified utility rather than a modular software platform, offering integrated wastewater treatment through seven water reclamation plants, major flood control infrastructure (including the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan/TARP system), comprehensive stormwater management programs, biosolids processing, and community education services. The core service portfolio centers on protecting water quality and reducing flooding in the Chicago metropolitan area, supported by research and monitoring capabilities, regulatory compliance programs, and public outreach initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wastewater Treatment Services
• Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP)
• Stormwater Management Program
• Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment Program
• Biosolids Management Program
• Green Infrastructure Partnership Program Program enabling municipalities to partner with MWRD for green infrastructure projects (green roofs, rain gardens, permeable pavement) that capture stormwater to reduce flooding and sewer backups.
• Stormwater Partnership Program Funding and technical assistance programs for local governments to build stormwater management projects within Cook County.
• Monitoring and Research Services Scientific monitoring and research conducted at the Lue-Hing R&D Complex at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, including water quality monitoring of Chicago Area Waterways and a research seminar series.
• Chicago Area Waterway System Operations Management of the Chicago Area Waterway System including the Lockport Powerhouse, Sidestream Elevated Pool Aeration (SEPA) Stations, and Centennial Fountain.
• Rain Barrel Program Sale and delivery of rain barrels to capture rainwater from rooftops for later use, reducing stormwater flow into local sewer systems.
• Medication Disposal Program Drug collection box program to prevent pharmaceuticals from entering waterways, with boxes located at MWRD facilities throughout Cook County.
• Watershed Management Ordinance and Technical Guidance Regulatory program with technical guidance manual for municipalities covering detention, volume control, and infiltration/inflow control for watershed management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Six NACWA Platinum 5 Peak Performance Awards for meeting at least five consecutive years of 100 percent compliance with NPDES permits
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Argonne National LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMWRD partners with Argonne National Laboratory to study the Chicago River microbe population, conducting research to understand and monitor waterway biology and water quality.
• Cook County MunicipalitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMWRD collaborates with municipalities throughout Cook County on stormwater management projects, green infrastructure implementation, and flood mitigation initiatives through programs like the Stormwater Partnership Program and Green Infrastructure Partnership Program.
• U.S. Army Corps of EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Chicago River restoration and watershed planning. USACE provides planning assistance for water resource projects including the Chicago River Restoration Framework.
• Friends of the Chicago RiverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on river-friendly initiatives through the THINK! program that promotes eco-friendly practices and cleaning product recommendations safe for waterways.
• Communities In Schools of ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMWRD is a proud partner with CIS of Chicago, participating in community events, classroom presentations, and training to inspire Chicagoland students about water protection and careers in water.
• Current (River Lab)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing free STEM curriculum for high school students focused on water quality and the Chicago River through Current's River Lab program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New York City Department of Environmental Protection: NYC DEP operates 14 wastewater treatment plants serving a major metropolitan area with combined sewer challenges, similar large-scale tunneling (NYC's Catskill/Delaware and water pollution control plants), and comparable public utility funding through property and water taxes.
• King County Wastewater Treatment Division: King County WTD operates regional wastewater treatment serving the Seattle metro with combined sewer overflow control programs, similar to MWRD's TARP. It is a directly comparable regional treatment authority with established environmental compliance record.
• DC Water: DC Water is the District of Columbia's wastewater and drinking water authority, operating the massive combined sewer system and Clean Rivers Project (similar to MWRD's TARP). It is a directly comparable municipal utility with similar CSO tunneling infrastructure and regulatory mandates.
• Boston Water and Sewer Commission: BWSC operates Boston's wastewater collection and stormwater systems, addressing combined sewer overflow challenges and CSO controls. Comparable as a municipal utility providing integrated water, sewer, and stormwater services in a dense Northeast metro.
• LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN): LASAN serves Los Angeles with four major wastewater treatment plants and a leading water reuse program (Hyperion, Terminal Island). It is a comparable large urban sanitation agency operating advanced treatment and biosolids management in a major U.S. metro.
• Philadelphia Water Department: Philadelphia Water Department operates three wastewater treatment plants serving the City of Philadelphia and provides combined stormwater management, mirroring MWRD's mandate with similar combined sewer system challenges in a major Northeast U.S. city.
• Metropolitan Council - Environmental Services: Met Council Environmental Services operates 8 wastewater treatment plants serving the Twin Cities metro. Comparable as a regional wastewater authority with multiple facilities, biosolids programs, and capital-intensive interceptor infrastructure.
• Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District: NEORSD is a regional sewer district serving the Cleveland area with three wastewater treatment plants and large-scale CSO control (Project Clean Lake). Directly comparable regional authority structure and mandate.
• Hampton Roads Sanitation District: HRSD operates nine major wastewater treatment plants serving southeastern Virginia. Directly comparable regional sanitation district with similar multi-plant operational model, environmental compliance focus, and biosolids reuse.

Others

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: USACE is a direct partner of MWRD for Chicago River restoration and watershed planning, providing planning assistance for water resource projects. Listed as OTHERS because it is a federal partner and infrastructure co-investor rather than a peer utility, but materially engaged with MWRD on TARP-adjacent projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MetropolitanWaterReclamationDistrict
• Instagraminstagram.com/mwrd_chicago
• Xx.com/mwrdgc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago