The MWRD provides most FOIA responses digitally (emailed to the requester). If paper copies are requested, the following fees have been outlined in the Freedom of Information Act:

• The first 50 regular and legal-sized pages are copied free of charge. Additional regular and legal-sized pages will cost $0.15 per page. After the first 50 pages, a postage fee will also be included. The fee must be paid in advance of the request being processed.
• Oversized pages (sewer maps, etc.): $1.00 per page. The first 50 oversized pages are not free of charge.
• If fees are incurred, an invoice will be sent to the requester.
• Payment of fees must be made by check or money order payable to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and sent to the attention of the Treasury Department, 100 E. Erie Street, Chicago, IL, 60611. Once the payment has been received, the materials will be immediately forwarded to the requester.
• According to 5 ILCS 140/6 (c), “Documents shall be furnished without charge or at a reduced charge, as determined by the public body, if the person requesting the documents states the specific purpose for the request and indicates that a waiver or reduction of the fee is in the public interest. Waiver or reduction of the fee is in the public interest if the principal purpose of the request is to access and disseminate information regarding the health, safety and welfare or the legal rights of the general public and is not for the principal purpose of personal or commercial benefit.”

If a waiver or reduction of fees is requested, please do so in writing, explaining why the waiver is requested.