Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation allowing the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) to recover valuable resources in used water.
The MWRD will be recovering phosphorus, supporting cleaner water and providing a return on investment for customers. The MWRD is looking to maximize energy recovery through new feedstocks for existing digesters, which will help the MWRD move toward its energy neutral goal by 2023. This process reduces cost and provides an additional revenue stream.
MWRD biosolids, which are the nutrient-rich, organic material developed through the extensive wastewater treatment process, will also be maximized as the MWRD explores opportunities to reuse water, market biosolids and recover other valuable commodities.
“The district possesses the expertise and experience needed to capture and beneficially reuse recovered resources,” said President Kathleen Meany. “Not only will this transformation reduce landfill usage, but we will see a reduction in greenhouse gases and in our carbon footprint. These processes are good for the environment, good for the economy and good for the consumer. They are win, win, win.”
Source: MWRD
