BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND”
UPDATED OCTOBER 2024
What is the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago, and why should it matter to you?
The MWRD plays a major role in treating wastewater, reducing flooding (increasingly important as Illinois’ climate becomes wetter due to global climate change), and reducing the amount of stormwater (which collects and transports animal waste, garbage, pesticides, fertilizers, oil, road salt, oil, grease, and other potential pollutants) into Lake Michigan. The district serves an area of 872 square miles, which includes the city of Chicago and 128 suburban communities. Because of the importance of clean water and the protection of our beautiful lake and all the Great Lakes, residents of our area deserve board members who will be strong advocates for environmental protection and water management in the Chicago area.
Dr. Sharon Waller, P.E. fits the bill. She’s running for a six-year term on the MWRD board. The election will be held on November 5, 2024, and early voting is ongoing. Dr. Waller is a licensed environmental engineer and small business owner with 30 years experience in the water industry. She serves her community as the president of River Park Advisory Council. If elected, Dr. Waller will be the first-ever water engineer on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board (a fact that was very surprising to me).
Dr. Waller was kind enough to talk with me about her background, her goals if elected, pressing environmental issues in the Chicago area, and some of her favorite nearby nature destinations.
Q. Can you tell me about your professional background? What made you want to become a commissioner for the MWRD?
A. I chose my college major of environmental engineering because my life mission is to “leave the place better than you found it,” which is adopted from Girl Scouts. I’ve worked nationally and internationally and wondered why environmental stewardship best practices have not been adopted in Illinois. Technology exists, but policy is lacking to address our water issues. The office of water commissioner is the ideal position to work with our state legislature on water policy required for implementation of available technologies to address our water issues.
Q. What skills and traits do you bring to the MWRD that other candidates do not have?
A. What makes me different from other candidates is that all water is my business: wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water, which are all one water. Our MWRD commissioners will tell you that local sewers are not the jurisdiction of MWRD, which is true. I’m an environmental engineer with 30 years of experience in the water industry, I welcome all questions on the entire water cycle. If we viewed our water issues in the broader context of the water cycle, I believe we would come to better solutions.
Q. Other than global climate change, what are some of the major environmental/public health (water related) issues affecting the Chicagoland area, and what can the MWRD do to address them?
A. Floods and combined sewer overflow (CSO): We must slow down stormwater and increase infiltration (i.e., add green space, vegetation, retention, and green infrastructure such as permeable pavement) to adapt to increasingly extreme rain events for both flood management and water quality. Raw sewage overflows into our river and water supply through CSO. We can learn from what New York City is doing to reduce CSOs with decentralized reclamation and reuse bordering the Brooklyn waterfront. MWRD can work with local municipalities that may not have sufficient staff to write applications for funds for sewer improvements, green infrastructure, and decentralized treatment. Funding is available through the federal 2018 American Water Infrastructure Act, and low-interest loans are available through federal and state programs.
Nutrient pollution: Harmful algal blooms impact our surface waters. MWRD can learn from Green Bay, Wisconsin’s collaboration with local farmers and the Oneida Nation to install agricultural buffer strips. MWRD can consider other options for nutrient removal including adding advanced treatment or constructed wetlands, or using reclaimed water for land irrigation allowed under a new state operating permitting process. The benefits of reclaimed water irrigation include reduced nutrients discharged to rivers and lakes, reduced fertilizer costs, and water conservation.
Fluorinated chemicals: Forever chemicals (i.e., per- and polyfluorinated substances, PFAS) are an issue in our drinking water, food chain, and MWRD biosolids previously used as compost. We are spending millions to remove forever chemicals from our drinking water at the same time industry is still adding them to our environment, which is a waste of taxpayer money. MWRD can support legislation adopted from Maine to phase out forever chemicals.
Groundwater depletion: A major aquifer bordering Cook County is collapsing, and our state government has disallowed use of surface water downstream of Chicago, calling it equivalent to raw sewage due to Chicago CSOs. The only allowable option for affected communities is to hook up to Lake Michigan water, which can result in affordability issues for under-resourced communities. All options must be on the table for climate change. Unfortunately, Illinois is the only state in the U.S. where water reuse is prohibited, which is ridiculous because water reuse is the natural water cycle that we teach to our 3rd graders. MWRD is a member of the WateReuse Association and should work to form a state chapter to advocate for 1) regulatory reform to allow water reuse and 2) incentives for reclaimed water irrigation and use of recycled water in industrial applications.
There is a rumor that younger voters don’t believe that politics and government can help the issues they face. I can refute that because we made real progress since I ran [for the MWRD board] in 2022 with three bills in the Illinois legislature, two task forces formed, and a state water plan with recommendations for reuse. That’s more progress than I’ve seen in 30 years as an environmental engineer, and it’s proof that engineers are useful in politics.
Q. Can you identify any process/system/etc. at the MWRD that’s currently not effective/working well? If so, what is it and what will you do to fix it?
A. MWRD should work with the state legislature and local water and wastewater utilities to upgrade local sewers and promote industrial reuse and decentralized reclamation to reduce flooding and combined sewer overflow. It can promote reclaimed water irrigation to reduce nutrient pollution associated with harmful algal blooms.
MWRD biosolids can be used as compost turf grass, ornamental plants, and non-edible crops but are not recommended for food crops due to PFAS concentrations. MWRD can support a phased ban on PFAS in Illinois.
Q. Many people realize that global climate change, pollution from manufacturing, microplastics, etc. are causing serious damage to the environment and healthy living, but they feel helpless to make a difference. What are a few simple and more involved ways to make a difference regarding the environment?
A. Call your state rep and senator and tell them you want to 1) repeal the ban on water reuse, which is the natural water cycle and 2) ban forever chemicals.
Q. Do you have a favorite environmental-related book, movie, or artistic creation that has inspired you?
A. Brave Blue World is a documentary about the global water crisis and what we can do about it. It’s inspiring instead of not doom and gloom.
Q. What are a few of your favorite nature destinations in the area?
A. I love to find natural gems in the city, especially along the Chicago area water system. The river is accessible by walking tails, canoe, and kayak at River Park, Horner Park, Clark Park, and Eleanor Boathouse at Park 571 in the Chicago Park District. You would never know you’re in the city from the river! The bison herd at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, as well as Big Marsh Park, are also great for a quick escape to nature.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
We need a passionate advocate for water quality and environmental issues that affect Chicagoland. We also need board members who are water engineers who can apply their technical experience to major water-related issues in Chicagoland. For these reasons, I offer my wholehearted endorsement of Dr. Waller. I’ll be voting for her, and I hope that you’ll do so, too. I strongly encourage you to visit her website for a deeper dive into these and other water-related issues.
Copyright (my text) Andrew Morkes; Sharon Waller holds the copyright to her interview responses
Copyright: photos of Big Marsh, bison, Chicago River, and my book below, copyright Andrew Morkes; Sharon Waller holds copyright to her image; Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, copyright MWRD
Looking for some great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $18.99. Nature in Chicagoland received great reviews in the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Southtown, This Week in Birding blog, and Beverly Review.
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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES
I have been a writer and editor for more than 30 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the author and publisher of “The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends” blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I served as a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school for five years.
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In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 70 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, the Vault Career Guide to Accounting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series) and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades and Cool Careers in Science series).
Here’s a list of the environmental-focused titles that I’ve written:
- Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit
- Wind Turbine Technicians (Great Careers Without a Bachelor’s Degree series)
- Environmental Scientists (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Renewable Energy Careers (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Environment (Getting Started series)
- Solar Power Technicians (Careers in Infrastructure series)
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