The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) is inviting local government entities to apply for assistance through the MWRD Stormwater Partnership Program.
“It is time to come together, collaborate and pursue stormwater management projects that promote resilience in our communities as we battle more intense rains,” says MWRD President Kari K. Steele. “If your community has a project in mind, the MWRD wants to hear from you, so that we can partner, help fund and offer our engineering expertise.”
Government entities, including municipalities, townships, county agencies, park districts, school districts and other local government organizations can apply for assistance in addressing local flooding through MWRD’s Stormwater Partnership Program.
Applications are due by Jan. 13, 2023. More information and application instructions are available on MWRD’s website.
MWRD has also scheduled two webinars to provide additional information about the opportunities: one on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. CST and the other on Wednesday, December 7 at 1:30 p.m. CST.
“As our storms intensify because of climate change, we need to help each other make our communities more resilient against flooding and other public threats,” says MWRD Commissioner and Stormwater Committee Chair Cameron Davis.
In addition, the MWRD is also accepting applications for assistance in acquiring flood prone properties. Applications can be found elsewhere on MWRD's website. To learn more about both programs, the MWRD recorded an informational webinar on the 2022 programs here.
MWRD’s Stormwater Partnership Program calls for both conceptual projects and shovel-ready projects. MWRD says that it also welcomes conceptual project submissions from communities that have stormwater problems affecting homes and businesses but lack resources or the capacity to investigate potential solutions: MWRD can offer technical support through preliminary engineering and identify potential alternatives.
Communities can also submit plans for shovel-ready projects that have already initiated engineering design and identified solutions to address local flooding. If identified as a potential partnership opportunity, the MWRD would serve as a funding partner for construction of the stormwater infrastructure improvements, and it is expected that the applicant will manage the design and construction of the project.
Potential projects vary: from the installation of green and gray infrastructure to stormwater storage, storm sewer and culvert upsizing, pump stations and drainage way establishments. Projects must be within the MWRD’s corporate boundaries and be intended to address structure flooding, not nuisance flooding, such as rear-yard or minor street ponding issues. Projects must be designed to manage stormwater through conveyance and/or storage improvements. Elements of green infrastructure may be used but should not be the primary source of stormwater abatement, as projects that are primarily green infrastructure related can be submitted separately for consideration through MWRD’s Green Infrastructure Partnership Program.
In its role as the regional authority for stormwater management in Cook County, the MWRD protects the safety of residents and minimizes flooding damages by coordinating, planning, implementing, financing, and operating regional stormwater management projects and develops and enforces reasonable rules with respect to watershed development. In 2014, the Illinois General Assembly expanded the authorities of the MWRD’s stormwater management legislation to address local drainage and flooding problems, and to acquire flood-prone property from property owners on a voluntary basis.
