More must be done to preserve water supply - Metropolitan Planning Council

Skip to main content

More must be done to preserve water supply

Rex_Libris

This letter to the editor ran Dec. 7, 2009, in Crain's Chicago Business.

Crain's recent coverage of projected water shortages in Northeastern Illinois drove home a fact many of us living near Lake Michigan are just beginning to realize: This region's water supply is valuable and limited, and we need to do more to protect and preserve it ("Water shortage looms," Crain's, Oct. 12).

Aurora began adopting policies in the early '90s to protect and preserve its two main water supplies, the Fox River and underground aquifers. A public education campaign to encourage conservation and rebates on water-saving appliances led to a 4-million-gallon reduction in Aurora's use from 2005 to 2008 — despite continued population growth.

Aurora teamed up with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources Defense Council and Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning on the innovative Rooftop to Rivers program, which uses natural landscaping and other strategies to prevent storm-water runoff from polluting the river. The city also invested $30 million to separate its combined sewer system, reducing backups and Fox River contamination.

Perhaps most important, Aurora is taking an active role in the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group to coordinate protection and preservation measures across the region to ensure all communities — whether their main source is Lake Michigan, aquifers or rivers — have enough clean water now and in the future.

Tom Weisner
Mayor, City of Aurora

Gerald W. Adelmann
Executive Director
Openlands

MarySue Barrett
President
Metropolitan Planning Council

Comments

  1. 1. Carmen Vidal-Hallett from Chicago on January 4, 2013

    EcoVidalDesign will like to team up with MPC to educate the public about public awareness and provide stormwater management solutions.

More posts by MarySue

All posts by MarySue »

MPC on Twitter

Follow us on Twitter »


Stay in the loop!

MPC's Regionalist newsletter keeps you up to date with our work and our upcoming events.?

Subscribe to Regionalist


Most popular news

Browse by date »

This page can be found online at http://archive.metroplanning.org/news/5714

Metropolitan Planning Council 140 S. Dearborn St.
Suite 1400
Chicago, Ill. 60603
312 922 5616 info@metroplanning.org

Sign up for newsletter and alerts »

Shaping a better, bolder, more equitable future for everyone

For more than 85 years, the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) has partnered with communities, businesses, and governments to unleash the greatness of the Chicago region. We believe that every neighborhood has promise, every community should be heard, and every person can thrive. To tackle the toughest urban planning and development challenges, we create collaborations that change perceptions, conversations—and the status quo. Read more about our work »

Donate »