Chicago water board and Sloan partner on water conservation pilot program

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) and Illinois-based Sloan Valve Co.recently launched a water conservation pilot program that could save 585,000 gallons of carbon intensive potable water in the area annually, according to the two entities.

As part of the program, Sloan donated 15 hybrid urinals for use in MWRD’s Chicago offices. The units clean the lines behind the trap with a 1-gallon surge of water every 72 hours, saving 39,000 gallons per year. The MWRD hopes the success of the program spurs more hybrid urinal use in business and government facilities in the neighboring Cook County area. This would ultimately impact the 1.4 billion gallons of water that is treated daily throughout Chicago’s seven water-reclamation treatment plants.

“This pilot program is the result of the public and private sectors working together,” said MWRD Vice President McGowan. “These types of partnerships are essential to solving our growing water quality issues in Cook County.”