Sustainable Design at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) owns and operates the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant (CWRP). With a maximum daily flow of 21 cubic meters per second (m3/s), or 480 mgd, the CWRP is the second largest wastewater treatment plant servicing the citizens of Cook County. Online since the early part of the last century, the CWRP is in need of major improvements. As part of these improvements, the District has recently begun construction of a 228.5 million primary treatment facility. Aware of their role as a publicly funded environmental utility, the District strives to lead by example and accordingly, has incorporated sustainable design features into the new buildings, specifically the building that will house the new grit removal facilities. The design of the new facilities strikes a balance between the goals of sustainability and the goals associated with the process requirements for a major wastewater treatment system.