"Video: Water reduction urged as Chicagoland reservoir nears limit ahead of more rain," WGN 9
More rain in the forecast on Thursday means many communities are being urged to reduce their water use to help prevent flooding.
The latest numbers show Chicagoland’s second-largest reservoir is nearing capacity after passing storms, leaving little room for more rain as the area prepares for another bout of storms. It’s why officials are asking locals in central Chicago or western suburbs such as Berwyn, Cicero, La Grange and Maywood to watch their water usage during and after the expected heavy downpour, as it can ease the strain on the sewer system.
A timelapse video shows how quickly the McCook Reservoir filled on July 27 after heavy rain. The southwest suburban reservoir serves 3.1 million people living in 37 communities.
Numbers on Thursday show that the McCook Reservoir is 94% full, while the larger reservoir in Thornton, in Chicago’s south suburbs, is 69% full.
In response, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) issued another Overflow Action Day alert, encouraging residents and business owners to reduce their water use during and after the anticipated rainfall.
Ed Staudacher, MWRD’s director of maintenance and operations, said it’s been an unprecedented year for storms. “We’ve filled the reservoir seven times this year, and it takes time to pump it back down to get ready for that next storm. So what’s in there right now is from a previous storm,” Staudacher said.
“During a storm, we send out an Overflow Action alerts and we ask the public to delay things like doing laundry or running a dishwasher to reserve that space for stormwater capacity.”
A spokesperson says that if the tunnel and reservoir plan reaches capacity, excess water can flow into the local rivers and canals through outfalls located along the waterways.