Jeffrey Kowar grew up paddling and fishing on the once heavily polluted Chicago River.
Now he supports that river’s rebirth as an operator at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s 175 mgd (average) Terrence J. O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant.
After college he worked in a beverage company’s quality assurance department before joining the district as a microbiology lab technician in 2015. He became a plant operator in 2017.
His influences: “I thank my parents for teaching me the value of hard work, and my wife Becca for believing in me. My mentors include my direct supervisor Sandra Matual; Lynn Kohlhaas who is operations manager here at O’Brien; John Kargbo at the Egan Water Reclamation Plant; and Toni Glymph in the microbiology lab. Most of all, I thank the many operators who have shared their expertise with me.”
On the job: “I mainly oversee our UV disinfection facility, coordinating with electricians and other tradespeople who work on that system. It’s special to operate the facility and later on know that when I and other people are paddling or fishing on the Chicago River, it’s safe to do so.”
What makes it exciting: “I’m part of our Strategic Energy Management team that partners with ComEd on energy-saving projects. Between 2023 and 2024 we saved 5.5% on energy use, mainly related to aeration efficiency. I’m excited to keep moving forward; the plant is going on 100 years old, so there are a lot of savings to be had.”
Sources of pride: “It’s having a positive impact on the environment, working with our plant operations and trades teams toward our common goal of putting the cleanest water possible out into the Chicago River, and saving energy along the way.”
Looking ahead: “I aspire to move into a position of leadership and be able to effect more change in the way things operate. There will be a lot of construction and retrofits at the O’Brien Plant, including upgrades for chemical and biological phosphorus removal. I’m excited to face those challenges and to help create the framework for our future operational strategies.”
Advice to young operators: “Get involved in your industry associations. You’ll get to see the entire world of wastewater treatment rather than just the little corner of it at your plant. Take all the opportunities presented to you. You’ll probably learn something new and enjoy yourself along the way.”
