Stormwater Management
The MWRD oversees a countywide effort to manage stormwater runoff, reduce flooding, improve the health of our waterways, and protect the source of our drinking water, Lake Michigan. To learn more about our work and how you can help reduce runoff, please explore the information below.
Watershed Planning Councils
Collaborate with other local communities to address stormwater through a countywide effort.
Stormwater Partnerships
Local governments and public agencies can apply for funding to build or design stormwater projects.
Green Infrastructure
Capturing stormwater where it falls through natural systems and permeable surfaces.
Stream Maintenance
We maintain more than 500 miles of waterways to clear obstructions and debris that slow water flow, create blockages, and worsen flooding.
Watershed Management Ordinance and Infiltration/Inflow
The WMO regulates sewer construction within the MWRD’s service area and development within suburban Cook County. It provides uniform stormwater management regulation.