Guest Speaker Debra Shore. - Feb. 04, 2014
Posted by Al Anile
Debra Shore, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District for the past seven years, was the Guest Speaker at the Skokie Valley weekly luncheon meeting of February 4, 2014.Commisioner Shore began her presentation by remarking that water was here before us and, in all likelihood; water will be here after us. But we could not be here at all without water. Of the three essential ingredients in the recipe for life, the first and foremost is liquid water. Economists often argue that water should be considered a commodity, like housing or food. But water possesses and intangible, even mystical, quality that transcends the principals of economics.
She went on talking about the many problem-solving accomplishments of far past and recent years, and of the many challenges yet to be faced in the future such as: Flooding and basements backups from more intense rain events and inadequate local sewer infrastructure; combined sewer overflows contaminating waterways, depleting oxygen supplies for fish, and degrading conditions for humans seeking to play and work on the waterways; Asian carp threatening to make their way into lake Michigan through the Sanitary & Ship Canal; energy bills rising while the pension fund sinks; retirements of seven department heads and the executive director; storms of unprecedented magnitude in recent years, and to present time. Yet, she said, "I see progress and lots of smart people at the District rising to the challenge".
Toward the end of her presentation, Commissioner Debra Shore answered many questions posed by club members.
She went on talking about the many problem-solving accomplishments of far past and recent years, and of the many challenges yet to be faced in the future such as: Flooding and basements backups from more intense rain events and inadequate local sewer infrastructure; combined sewer overflows contaminating waterways, depleting oxygen supplies for fish, and degrading conditions for humans seeking to play and work on the waterways; Asian carp threatening to make their way into lake Michigan through the Sanitary & Ship Canal; energy bills rising while the pension fund sinks; retirements of seven department heads and the executive director; storms of unprecedented magnitude in recent years, and to present time. Yet, she said, "I see progress and lots of smart people at the District rising to the challenge".
Toward the end of her presentation, Commissioner Debra Shore answered many questions posed by club members.