A proposed $600 million bond issue would allow the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago renovate some aging facilities, while building new pumping stations and sewers.

A hearing to provide details to the public about the bond issue is scheduled for noon tomorrow, following the MWRD's regular board meeting.

The MWRD is not required by state law to put the bond issue up for a referendum. That's because even with the new bonds, the agency will still be below its borrowing cap, a MWRD spokeswoman says. Nonetheless, it is holding a meeting to hear public comments on the issue.

The bond would be used to renovate one of the district's wastewater treatment facilities. The improvements will make it easier for the district to turn sludge into a cake-like fertilizer that the MWRD provides to golf courses and other locations.

All of the projects are part of the agency's 40-year master plan.

The board meeting is schedule for 10 a.m. tomorrow at the MWRD headquarters, 100 E. Erie.

The board meeting will hit upon a number of items, including the MWRD's application for a Homeland Security grant to purchase security systems and firearms for its police force, a $15,000 fee to send four managers to a wastewater conference and a number of repairs and upgrades to MWRD properties.

It is also seeking to increase a repair contract with Anchor Mechanical, Inc., for its Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, by $1.8 million. MWRD documents say the plant is suffering from an unmanageable lag in maintenance.