Chicago Water District, U.S. EPA Settle Agreement to Reduce Storm Water Pollution

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) announced a settlement to resolve claims that untreated sewer discharges were released into Chicago area waterways during flood and wet weather events. The settlement aims to protect water quality and dramatically decrease combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in Cook County.

“[This] settlement will prevent polluted storm water runoff from flowing through Chicago area neighborhoods and into local waterways,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Combining innovative storm water management practices, like rain gardens, with necessary infrastructure overhauls will protect peoples’ health and provide area residents with improved recreational opportunities.”

Under the agreement with EPA, MWRD will continue to implement its Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP) to increase its capacity to handle wet weather events and address CSO discharges. Conceived in the early 1970s according to MWRD, TARP is scheduled to be completed in a series of stages in 2015, 2017 and 2029. Projects include the Thornton Composite Reservoir, which will be completed by the end of 2015 and have 7.9 billion gal of storage capacity. The McCook Stage 1 Reservoir is set for completion by 2029, adding 3.5 billion gal of storage capacity to the system.

MWRD is also to work on controlling trash and debris in overflows using skimmer boats to remove debris from the water, and implementing a green infrastructure program that will reduce storm water runoff in service areas by distributing rain barrels and building green roofs, rain gardens and more.

Source: U.S. EPA, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago