Sustainable Infrastructure Design

In 2014, EDI was contracted by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) to provide preliminary engineering for a green/grey flood control project in the Washington Street area of Blue Island, Illinois. The EDI-lead team delivered a concept plan, that included sustainable design approaches, to address widespread flooding within the Northeast corridor of Blue Island.

Prior to this preliminary engineering project, EDI completed civil engineering design plans for six rain gardens with infiltration storage and two permeable concrete parking lots within that same flood-prone area of Blue Island.

These projects, and others similar in scope within the region, is a direct result of MWRD’s mandate expanding in 2014 from working on flood projects of regional significance, to include those of individual community significance.

According to the USEPA website, green infrastructure reduces and treats stormwater at its source while delivering many other environmental, social, and economic benefits.

MWRD, established in 1889, is responsible for wastewater and stormwater management throughout Cook County.