SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM FEASIBILITY STUDY – CALUMET WATER RECLAMATION PLANT

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) serves approximately 5 million people and covers an area of 872 square miles. The MWRDGC’s goal is to prevent sewage from entering Lake Michigan, which supplies drinking water to the City of Chicago. The MWRDGC also treats sewage to avoid river contamination and provides storage and treatment facilities for combined sewage and storm water. In addition, the district operates 34 pumping stations and water reclamation plants, including one of the world’s largest plants. The MWRDGC, which treats an average of 1.4 billion gallons of waste water a day, is also one of the largest electricity consumers in the state of Illinois, with an annual budget of approximately $40 million.

Woolpert performed a feasibility study of an alternative energy source that would reduce the MWRDGC’s reliance on conventional grid-supplied power through the installation of photovoltaic solar arrays. The plant would serve as a prototype for other MWRDGC facilities. The feasibility study included site assessment of the existing facility, including grounds and structure roofs, to evaluate the size of the photovoltaic arrays that could be used. Woolpert provided a conceptual design and specifications that could be used for such a system in the future. In addition, we provided an economic analysis of the installation costs, payback period and potential external funding sources.