Dan Pierce Re-elected President The North Shore Water Reclamation District

Daniel Pierce of Highland Park was unanimously re-elected as President of the North Shore Water Reclamation District (NSWRD) at its annual organization meeting in December. Also re-elected were Vice President Steve Drew of Waukegan and Treasurer Preston Carter of Beach Park.

“It has been an honor to serve on the NSWRD Board of Trustees for more than a decade,” President Pierce said. “I have enjoyed working with my fellow Board members and our professional staff to ensure that the District continues to provide outstanding wastewater treatment services to our customers while pursuing environmentally sound reuses for treated wastewater.”

President Pierce has been a NSWRD Trustee since 2004, representing Ward 5 (Highland Park, Highwood), and previously served twice as President. In addition, he was Mayor of Highland Park for three terms, and an Illinois State Representative for 20 years. He is the recipient of the National Association of Cleanwater Agencies Public Service Award and the Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies Public Official Award.

President Pierce also initiated the District’s name change from “North Shore Sanitary District” to “North Shore Water Reclamation District.” The new name better reflects the NSWRD’s mission of protecting Lake Michigan and other local waterways while promoting the beneficial reuse of water resources.

Vice President Drew has been an NSWRD Trustee since 2002, representing Ward 2 (Waukegan). He previously served twice as both Board President and Vice President. Trustee Drew was also a member of the Waukegan Unit School District 60 Board.

Trustee Carter has served as an NSWRD Trustee since December 2012, representing Ward 1 (Winthrop Harbor, Zion, Beach Park). He was first elected Treasurer in 2014. In addition, he was a 34-year employee of the District before retiring in 2010.

Mary Jo Bryant of Waukegan will continue to serve as Board Secretary and Greg Jackson of Winthrop Harbor was re-appointed NSWRD Attorney.

The North Shore Water Reclamation District was founded as the North Shore Sanitary District in April 1914 after community leaders, concerned about the dumping of raw sewage directly in Lake Michigan, came together to create the regional wastewater treatment agency. The District originally served 36,000 residents of six lakefront towns: Highland Park, Highwood, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, North Chicago, Waukegan as well as the Fort Sheridan Reservation and the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Today, the agency has grown to serve more than 300,000 people in 17 communities including Winthrop Harbor; Beach Park; Gurnee; Park City; Grayslake; Green Oaks; Bannockburn; Deerfield; and Zion.

The NSWRD works in close conjunction with these municipalities, which collect wastewater from residents via local sewer systems. The wastewater is then transported to the District through more than 100 miles of interceptor pipes to three state-of-the-art water reclamation facilities in Gurnee, Waukegan and Highland Park, where it is treated and is available for beneficial reuse, including providing water to irrigate green space in our communities.