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During every moment of every day, northeastern Illinois is losing Lake Michigan water – and with it, the money rate payers contributed to pumping, treating and distributing this water. Yet while we know our region is losing vast sums of Lake Michigan water, and we know this inefficiency is costing us money, we do not have a clear picture of how much water or how much money we are wasting. The best available data suggest the problem is enormous – approximately 490 million gallons a week, enough water to fill more than one Willis Tower. However, the way Illinois grants Lake Michigan water permits does not capture data that identify the causes of loss and solutions to prevent it. That’s just one reason why the Ill. Dept. of Natural Resources (IDNR) has proposed changing the permit process.
At this roundtable, MPC will release our paper Immeasurable Loss: Modernizing Lake Michigan Water Use, which supports IDNR’s proposals and makes further recommendations for more efficient water use. The paper and the event will provide up-to-date information on IDNR’s proposals and an opportunity for frank discussion.
Panelists:
Dan Injerd, Chief, Lake Michigan Management Section, Ill. Dept. of Natural Resources
Michael Smyth, Sr. Manager of Field Services and Production, Illinois American Water
Mike Ramsey, Public Works Supervisor, Village of Westmont
Josh Ellis, Program Director, Metropolitan Planning Council
Registration is $30, or $15 for current MPC donors. Lunch is included; you may request vegetarian, vegan or gluten free when you register.
This event is sponsored by Illinois American Water.