MWRD Commissioner Flynn

04/27/2026

Clean up! Clean up! Everybody, everywhere that registers with Friends of the Chicago River for Clean ups happening all over the County! Join Mayor Ken Klein, President Commissioner Kari Steele, Commissioner Beth Mc Elroy Kirkwood, and myself Sat May 9th

04/20/2026

It's that time of year! Join us! Handful of seats on our bus from Crestwood bus left to carry our bodies and breasts to the Walk! Message me if you will ride with us...and here is the link
give.osfhealthcarefoundation.org/team/818206 to register and grab your shirt.

Join Commissioner Beth McElroy Kirkwood and "Commish with a Cause"

04/14/2026

Building from the ground up! Details all can be found at districtjobs.org

04/14/2026

"Be prepared", it's the motto for the day.

Overflow Action Alert

Heavy rain is expected in the Chicago area today. Reduce your use of water during and after the storm to help prevent flooding and protect water quality:

• Delay showers and baths
• Flush less frequently
• Wait to run the dishwasher or washing machine

Flooding and sewer backups can happen for a variety of reasons. To help prevent flooding inside or around your home, there are actions you and your family can take before and during rainfall.

Learn how to prepare for stormwater at this link: https://mwrd.org/community-action/you-can-help-prevent-flooding-and-protect-water-quality.

Learn more about Combined Sewer Overflow prevention here: https://mwrd.org/community-action/overflow-action

Sign up to receive Overflow Action Alerts via text
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/YhH2xGP/MWRDSignup

Learn what you should do during flooding:
https://mwrd.org/community-action/what-you-should-do-during-flooding

For more information and explanations about how the MWRD’s infrastructure and waterway system operate, visit these links:

Learn about the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP)
https://mwrd.org/what-we-do/tunnel-and-reservoir-plan-tarp

Understand how the Chicago Area Waterway System works
https://mwrd.org/what-we-do/reducing-flooding/chicago-area-waterway-system-caws

Learn about the types of sewer systems in Cook County
https://mwrd.org/community-action/understanding-your-sewer

Request a presentation for your community
https://mwrd.org/education/speakers-and-outreach

Tour our facilities
https://mwrd.org/education/tours

Municipal partners can explore stormwater partnership opportunities
https://mwrd.org/stormwater/partnerships

The top of the MWRD’s website displays a notification if an Overflow Action Alert is active. Visit mwrd.org.

Overflow Action Alerts are a joint initiative of the MWRD and Friends of the Chicago River.

04/10/2026

Searching for best and brightest in our Legal Dept- sharp minds to untangle regulations, outwit red tape and make environmental law sound exciting at dinner parties

04/03/2026

And we're back.

Overflow Action Alert

Heavy rain is expected in the Chicago area today. Reduce your use of water during and after the storm to help prevent flooding and protect water quality:

* Delay showers and baths
* Flush less frequently
* Wait to run the dishwasher or washing machine

Flooding and sewer backups can happen for a variety of reasons. To help prevent flooding inside or around your home, there are actions you and your family can take before and during rainfall.

Learn how to prepare for stormwater at this link: https://mwrd.org/community-action/you-can-help-prevent-flooding-and-protect-water-quality.

Learn more about Combined Sewer Overflow prevention here: https://mwrd.org/community-action/overflow-action

Sign up to receive Overflow Action Alerts via text
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/YhH2xGP/MWRDSignup

Learn what you should do during flooding:
https://mwrd.org/community-action/what-you-should-do-during-flooding

For more information and explanations about how the MWRD’s infrastructure and waterway system operate, visit these links:

Learn about the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP)
https://mwrd.org/what-we-do/tunnel-and-reservoir-plan-tarp

Understand how the Chicago Area Waterway System works
https://mwrd.org/what-we-do/reducing-flooding/chicago-area-waterway-system-caws

Learn about the types of sewer systems in Cook County
https://mwrd.org/community-action/understanding-your-sewer

Request a presentation for your community
https://mwrd.org/education/speakers-and-outreach

Tour our facilities
https://mwrd.org/education/tours

Municipal partners can explore stormwater partnership opportunities
https://mwrd.org/stormwater/partnerships

The top of the MWRD’s website displays a notification if an Overflow Action Alert is active. Visit mwrd.org.

Overflow Action Alerts are a joint initiative of the MWRD and

04/03/2026

No April foolin', here is a recap on ongoing storms.

10 a.m. Storm Update: MWRD continues to manage flow

As much as 0.4 inches of rain has fallen so far in parts of Cook County for the storm that began around 12 a.m. this morning. Last night, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) issued an overflow action alert encouraging homeowners and businesses to conserve water, when possible, to provide more capacity in the sewers. The MWRD is working around the clock to manage this weather event.

The MWRD’s Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP) is protecting the quality of the region’s water resources and mitigating flooding for 3.71 million people served through combined sewer systems. TARP consists of three reservoirs and four tunnel systems. As of 6:45 a.m., the TARP reservoirs are holding nearly 1.4 billion gallons of water. Here is the breakdown:

McCook Reservoir is approximately 38 percent full, holding 1.3 billion gallons. The McCook Reservoir has 3.5 billion gallons of capacity, serving central Chicago and 36 municipalities covering 252 square miles on the Des Plaines and Mainstream Tunnel Systems.
Thornton Composite Reservoir is approximately 1 percent full, holding 0.1 billion gallons. The Thornton Composite Reservoir has 7.9 billion gallons of total capacity, including 4.8 billion gallons of combined sewer capacity, serving 91 square miles on the Calumet Tunnel System, covering the South Side of Chicago and 13 south suburban municipalities.
Before severe storms, the MWRD lowers the levels of the Chicago Area Waterway System at its Lockport Powerhouse to provide added capacity in local waterways.

“Our staff is managing billions of gallons of water at our seven water reclamation plants and through our Tunnel and Reservoir Plan which is operating to protect our water environment and mitigate flooding,” said MWRD President Kari K. Steele. “As we deal with the fast-changing weather this week, we encourage everyone to conserve water, when possible, to create more capacity in our systems.”

Read the press release at MWRD.org/News
https://mwrd.org/news/10-am-storm-update-mwrd-continues-manage-flow

Learn more about TARP and other MWRD programs
https://mwrd.org/what-we-do/tunnel-and-reservoir-plan-tarp/tunnel-and-reservoir-plan-tarp-reservoir-levels

How you can help prevent flooding
https://mwrd.org/community-action/you-can-help-reduce-flooding-and-protect-water-quality

Learn about the types of sewer systems in Cook County
https://mwrd.org/community-action/understanding-your-sewer

Receive direct Overflow Action alerts via text
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/YhH2xGP/MWRDSignup

Learn more at MWRD.org/OAD

03/23/2026

"Kids today..." were great!

03/16/2026

Storm recap for Cook County.

03/15/2026

And that's a cold, wet wrap for Parades! Thank you to Plumbers 130, The Shannon Rovers Pipes and Drums, Mayor Johnson and the South Side hospitality by Ald Matt O'Shea for all the smiles for miles! Shout out to Streets and San for tidying the town after us all!

03/12/2026

March Madness in the air!