Reclaim, Recover, Reuse: Chicago’s End-to-End Approach to Water Quality
- Course Number: C1062
- Credits: 4 hours
- Instructor: Ellen Huang, PE
- Price: $40
Course Outline
This course traces how the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago evolved from reversing the Chicago River to running a modern “utility of the future.” You’ll follow the complete treatment train across seven WRPs—highlighting Stickney’s scale—then go underground into the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (Deep Tunnel) that captures billions of gallons to curb CSOs and flooding. We’ll examine nutrient recovery, beneficial biosolids reuse, energy generation from hydro and digester gas, and countywide green-infrastructure and stormwater programs that build climate resilience and community benefits.
At the end of this course, there will be a multiple-choice, open-book quiz, which is designed to enhance your understanding of the course material.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Be able to explain Chicago’s end-to-end water reclamation process from collection to discharge;
- Be able to describe the role of TARP (Deep Tunnel) in reducing CSOs and flooding;
- Be able to identify key treatment steps and resource recovery pathways (nutrients, biosolids, energy); and
- Be able to evaluate stormwater and green-infrastructure strategies that enhance resilience.