North Side Water Reclamation Plant Is Renamed To Terrence J. O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) Board of Commissioners President Terrence J. O’Brien has presided over his last meeting, and to honor his 24 years of elected service, his eight fellow commissioners announced at yesterday’s Board meeting that the North Side Water Reclamation Plant’s name would be changed to the Terrence J. O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant.

Terrence J. O’Brien was first elected to a six-year term as a commissioner of the MWRD in November, 1988. He was the third generation of his family to work for the MWRD; his father, William O’Brien, worked as a painter leadman at the North Side WRP, and his grandfather, John Hickey, served as an operating engineer, also at North Side WRP.

President O’Brien’s proven leadership abilities helped him to be elected president of the MWRD by his fellow commissioners in 1997 for a two year term. As of 2011, he had been unanimously re-elected president eight times.

Stemming from a long career in the environmental field, President O’Brien used his extensive knowledge and experience to ensure that MWRD services are provided at the least possible cost to taxpayers. While serving as president, the MWRD abated over $262M dollars back to Cook County taxpayers, and the MWRD is one of the few governmental agencies in the State of Illinois to have a AAA bond rating.

During his tenure President O’Brien lead the successful introduction and passage of a flood and stormwater management bill through the Illinois General Assembly, giving MWRD the responsibility of addressing flooding issues throughout Cook County in 2004. He also instituted a pollution hotline for citizens to report illegal dumping of materials into sewers and waterways, enabling MWRD to take immediate action against violators.

Perhaps his greatest achievement focused on the completion of the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP) in order to protect area waterways and to mitigate chronic flooding problems. Since becoming a commissioner in 1988, President O’Brien obtained approximately $800M dollars for TARP.

TARP is designed to capture sewer overflow before it can pollute the Chicago Area Waterways (CAWS). Since TARP’s implementation in 1985, over 950 billion gallons of combined sewer overflow have been captured that otherwise would have polluted the CAWS. The system’s final tunnel was completed in May 2006, making all 109 miles of tunnel operational during rain events in Cook County.

“President O’Brien never missed a Board of Commissioners meeting in 24 years of service,” said MWRD Executive Director David St. Pierre. “Throughout his career, President O’Brien maintained a singular, reliable focus in every decision he made—what is best for the District.”

About Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD):
Established in 1889, the MWRD is an award-winning, special purpose government agency responsible for wastewater treatment and stormwater management in Cook County, Illinois. Our water environment, take it personally. For more information, visit www.mwrd.org.