Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)
Sewer utility with combined sewers · Illinois · Chicago
Map sources: water outlines and launches from OpenBoatLaunch and OpenStreetMap contributors (Open Database License); wastewater outlets from EPA and state records; downstream estimates by DirtyWaterWatch using U.S. Geological Survey maps and flow data. Base map: OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.
Solid dots mark combined sewer outfalls. Ringed dots mark treatment plant outfalls. A yellow ring with a dashed edge means discharge likely or possible: heavy rain, no report received. Dashed river stretches are estimates of where a discharge travels. Square boat markers mark boat launches listed by OpenBoatLaunch.
- Federal wastewater discharge permit (NPDES)
- IL0028088
- Wastewater outlets
- 10 combined sewer outfalls and 1 treatment plant outfall listed by EPA or state agencies (the state's combined sewer records list 9) · List
- Waters listed as receiving wastewater
- NORTH SHORE CHANNEL
- Tracked waters
- Des Plaines River, IL, Lake Michigan, IL, North Branch Chicago River, IL, North Shore Channel, IL
- Discharge records counted
- 35 records · latest
- Total reported volume in these records
- 12,066,100,000 gallons across the 35 records that give a volume
These totals reflect the records we track. Missing volumes and gaps in reporting limit comparisons between operators.
Sources: EPA ECHO and the operator and state sources linked below. Counts use the discharge records on this page. Updated 2026-11-06 09:03 UTC.
Public notices and alerts
Pages where Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant) or the state publishes its notices:
Its public-notice channels
- Operator's notice page · Required by law (IL0028088)
Annual CSO notice not read
40 CFR 122.38(b): "by May 1 of each calendar year (or an alternative date specified by the Director), any permittees authorized to discharge a CSO to the Great Lakes Basin shall make available to the public an annual notice describing the CSO discharges from its discharge point(s) that occurred in the previous calendar year"
- Warning lights or signs · Required by law (IL0028088)
Outfall signs not read
40 CFR 122.38(a)(1): the Great Lakes Basin CSO permittee ensures adequate signage, where feasible, at its CSO discharge points and at potentially impacted public access areas
- Health department page · Required by law (IL0028088)
Health department notice not read
40 CFR 122.38(a)(2)(i): initial notice to the local public health department and other potentially affected public entities within 4 hours of becoming aware of a CSO discharge; (a)(2)(ii): the volume and the approximate end time within 7 days after it ends
- Email list · Required by a permit (IL0028088)
Email list; not read
40 CFR 122.38(a)(3)(i): "As soon as possible, but no later than four (4) hours after becoming aware by monitoring, modeling or other means that a CSO discharge has occurred, the Great Lakes Basin CSO permittee shall provide public notification of CSO discharges. The Great Lakes Basin CSO permittee shall provide public notification of CSO discharges electronically, such as by text, email, social media alerts to subscribers or by posting a notice on its public access website"; 40 CFR 122.38(a)(3)(iii): within 7 days after becoming aware that the discharge has ended, the permittee updates the electronic notice with the volume and the approximate end time; MWRD permits IL0028053 and IL0028061, Special Condition 13.14 (public notification program; permit text not read)
Source: Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)'s public notice and alert pages and the state's notification records; DirtyWaterWatch register of public-notice channels and its page monitor.
Report a missing notice or error
Rain and discharges
The NOAA MRMS radar-only rainfall estimate for the 24 hours to the latest hour, read every hour at each outfall from the radar grid. We show a caution when the rain reaches the amount below and no discharge report has arrived.
- Threshold
- 0.1 in of rain in 24 hours (site default: This site's default: 0.1 inch of rain in 24 hours at a combined sewer outfall, applied where the state publishes no rain trigger of its own)
- Radar now
- 1.3 in in the 24 hours to Nov 6, 2026, 2:00 AM CST
- Forecast
- 0.01 in forecast in the next 24 hours (NWS forecast issued Nov 6, 2026, 12:21 AM CST)
- Status
- Discharge possible: heavy rain, no report received
Source: NOAA National Weather Service, MRMS radar-only rainfall estimate, valid Nov 6, 2026, 2:00 AM CST, retrieved 2026-11-06 08:57 UTC; threshold: site default; rule: How it works, discharge likely or possible.
Wastewater outlets
Outfall: a pipe or outlet where wastewater enters a water body.
10 combined sewer outfalls and 1 treatment plant outfall listed by EPA or state agencies. Discharge likely or possible now at some of them: see Rain and discharges above.
Combined sewer outfalls
10 outfalls · discharge possible now at 9
Discharge possible: heavy rain, no report received at 9 outfalls now: radar rainfall has reached the operator's threshold and no discharge report has arrived (NOAA radar estimate).
- Outfall 101 · receiving water in the permit: North Shore Channel · North Shore Channel, IL · open · discharge possible now: heavy rain, no report received
- Outfall 102 · receiving water in the permit: North Shore Channel · North Shore Channel, IL · open · discharge possible now: heavy rain, no report received
- Outfall 103 · receiving water in the permit: North Shore Channel · North Shore Channel, IL · open · discharge possible now: heavy rain, no report received
- Outfall 104 · receiving water in the permit: North Shore Channel · North Shore Channel, IL · open · discharge possible now: heavy rain, no report received
- Outfall 105 · receiving water in the permit: North Shore Channel · North Shore Channel, IL · open · discharge possible now: heavy rain, no report received
- Outfall 106 · receiving water in the permit: North Shore Channel · North Shore Channel, IL · open · discharge possible now: heavy rain, no report received
- Outfall 107 · receiving water in the permit: North Branch Chicago River · North Branch Chicago River, IL · open · discharge possible now: heavy rain, no report received
- Outfall 109 · receiving water in the permit: Des Plaines River · Des Plaines River, IL · open · discharge possible now: heavy rain, no report received
- Outfall 110 · receiving water in the permit: North Shore Channel · North Shore Channel, IL · open · discharge possible now: heavy rain, no report received
- Outfall Wilmette Gate · receiving water in the permit: Lake Michigan · Lake Michigan, IL · open
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) national combined sewer outfall inventory (ECHO) and state outfall layers. Open or closed as EPA's inventory lists it. DirtyWaterWatch links outlets to waters using permit numbers, locations and names.
Treatment plant outfalls
1 outfall
- Outfall 001 · receiving water in the permit: NORTH SHORE CHANNEL · North Shore Channel, IL · status not published
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permit records (ICIS-NPDES permitted features): where a treatment plant’s permitted discharge leaves. No national source says whether a plant outfall is open or closed.
Reports and advisories
Combined sewer overflow (CSO): sewage mixed with rainwater spills from a shared sewer system.
| When | Report | Status |
|---|---|---|
| to Jul 3 ’23 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 230.8 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to May 18 ’20 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 766.7 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to May 15 ’20 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 50.1 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Oct 3 ’19 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 54.5 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Oct 15 ’17 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 289.8 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Apr 30 ’17 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 19.3 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Jul 24 ’16 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 34 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Jun 16 ’15 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 167.2 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Jul 1 ’14 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 163 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Apr 19 ’13 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 1,429.2 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Jul 23 ’11 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 504.3 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to May 29 ’11 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 107 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Jul 24 ’10 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 750.3 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Jun 19 ’09 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 191.6 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Mar 8 ’09 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 143.1 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Feb 27 ’09 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 78.9 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Dec 28 ’08 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 460.8 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Sep 16 ’08 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 2,941.7 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Aug 24 ’07 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 224 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Aug 22 ’02 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 455.4 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Oct 13 ’01 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 90.7 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Aug 31 ’01 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 75.3 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Aug 2 ’01 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 139.9 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Jun 13, 1999 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 9.7 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
| to Aug 17, 1997 | Lake Michigan · Wilmette Gate Wilmette gate (North Shore Channel) · CSO · 157 million gallons report · notice · map | ended |
Sources: MWRD Lake Michigan reversals table (1985 to present), retrieved 2026-11-06 08:41 UTC. A report's record id and times show when you hover or focus its "report" link.
Showing the latest 25 records of 35 records.See them all with filters.
All reports in Illinois by year: 2023 (1 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 2020 (2 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 2019 (1 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 2017 (2 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 2016 (1 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 2015 (1 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 2014 (1 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 2013 (1 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 2011 (2 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 2010 (1 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 2009 (3 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 2008 (2 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 2007 (1 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 2002 (1 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 2001 (3 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 1999 (1 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 1997 (2 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 1990 (3 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 1989 (1 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 1987 (2 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 1986 (1 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant)) · 1985 (2 from Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Terrence J O'Brien WTR Reclamation Plant))
Other sewer operators on these waters
- Des Plaines River, IL: City of Chicago (Chicago CSO), City of Crest Hill, City of Joliet, City of Joliet Eastside (Joliet Eastside STP), City of Park Ridge (Park Ridge CSOS), Dupage County Public Works, Lake County Public Works Department, Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Stickney WRP), North Shore Water Reclamation District, Village of Brookfield (Brookfield CSOS), Village of Des Plaines (Des Plaines CSOS), Village of Elwood, Village of Forest Park (Forest Park CSOS), Village of Franklin Park, Village of Libertyville, Village of Lyons (Lyons CSOS), Village of Maywood (Maywood CSOS), Village of Melrose Park (Melrose Park CSOS), Village of Mount Prospect, Village of Mundelein, Village of North Riverside, Village of River Forest (River Forest CSOS), Village of River Grove (River Grove CSOS), Village of Riverside (Riverside CSOS), Village of Romeoville, Village of Schiller Park
- Lake Michigan, IL: Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Calumet WRP), Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Stickney WRP), North Shore Water Reclamation District
- North Branch Chicago River, IL: City of Chicago (Chicago CSO), Village of Deerfield, Village of Morton Grove (Morton Grove CSOS), Village of Niles (Niles CSOS)
- North Shore Channel, IL: City of Chicago (Chicago CSO), City of Evanston (Evanston CSOS), Metro Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC Stickney WRP), Village of Lincolnwood (Lincolnwood CSOS), Village of Skokie, Village of Wilmette (Wilmette CSOS)
The last 90 days
No discharge, advisory or caution periods are shown for the waters this sewer operator's reports were placed on in this time span. Check downstream stretches and source coverage.
Source: DirtyWaterWatch calculations using the reports named above and the published status rules. Updated 2026-11-06 09:03 UTC.
Reported discharges over time
Historical charts are not available here. See the reports and sources on this page.