Rejuvenating the Chicago River, Innovative Design Considerations for New Ultraviolet Disinfection Facilities

In 2011, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) created an internal Disinfection Task Force to evaluate disinfection technologies for implementation at the Terrance J. O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant (OWRP), as part of a Water Quality Strategy for the Affected Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS). Using a triple bottom line approach the Task Force completed its evaluation of available disinfection technologies and recommended UV disinfection for implementation by the 2016 disinfection season. To meet this schedule, District personnel, designers and the UV equipment manufacturer, worked as a single cohesive project team to ensure the unique challenges of the design of this facility could be overcome while ensuring the completion of the project within an accelerated design schedule.