Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Background

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) treats approximately 1.5 billion gallons of wastewater each day at seven treatment facilities, serving Chicago and 43 surrounding communities.

Issue

The District’s initial IT Strategic Plan was developed over 10 years ago. They needed a plan to address numerous issues including:

• Streamlining business processes, especially inter-departmental processes, via IT systems integration
• Achieving the full value of investments in business applications, including SAP ERP
• Integrating key applications such as CMMS, GIS and SAP ERP
• Gaining consensus among District leadership regarding IT priorities 
• IT organizational development

Solution

MWRDGC contracted with Westin to create a new IT Strategic Plan to incorporate the needs and business functions of all the District’s business units. Together, the team conducted the following steps:

Current State Assessment:

• Business process – Determine how Departments complete their assigned functions within the organization
• Systems – Identify systems in use existing integration
• IT Organization – Document Department organization and nature of support to the organization

Future State Definition:

• Identify and document business process improvements as a “Future State.”
• Propose IT Systems recommendations including replacement, upgrades, and/or integrations.
• Recommended IT Organizational changes and a IT staffing plan.
• Identify IT implementation projects that comprise an IT Program.

Outcomes

The IT Strategic Plan was completed and adopted in its entirety by MWRDGC Executive Management. The District is currently on track in its achievement of the defined program objectives..