Flickr user Ken Schneider (cc)
The Watershed Management Ordinance gives both municipalities and developers the chance to incorporate stormwater management techniques in new construction.
By Josh Ellis and MPC Research Assistant Caroline Rendon - April 2, 2014
Spring is here, which means May 1, the official day the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s (MWRD) Watershed Management Ordinance goes into effect, is fast approaching. What’s exciting about this? In short, Cook County municipalities will have more and greener options for reducing flooding, improving water quality and protecting water resources. The Ordinance replaces the 40-year-old Sewer Permit Ordinance, which contained provisions for stormwater retention but needed updates to include current best management practices and provisions for a more urbanized region.
Here at the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), we’ve been excited to see the Watershed Management Ordinance take shape and are looking forward to the ways it will help move our region forward sustainably. Now that the ordinance is coming into effect, the next step is to facilitate its implementation around the region. And that means training municipal staffs across the region on the what, how and why.
The Ordinance addresses a major issue for Cook County: how to deal with the effects of urbanization, which may lead to increased pollution and flooding, while providing municipalities and developers with flexible choices for making sure that water resources are managed responsibly. The Ordinance sets out specific rules for new developments to ensure that they don’t lead to increased flood risk, soil erosion or water pollution. At the same time, the guidelines include recommendations for both onsite water management techniques such as green infrastructure (rain barrels and permeable pavement, for example) and offsite management when other methods aren’t possible. The Ordinance was designed to allow municipalities to tailor water management strategies to local conditions and be responsive to developers’ requirements and restraints. (For a great summary of the Ordinance, check out the MWRD website.)
This flexibility is the result of a process of public engagement and stakeholder participation, during which MWRD collected input from stakeholders in real estate, municipal government and others. This regional collaboration is an admirable model for natural resource management and reflects the importance of working across fields and borders to make sure that water remains plentiful and safe for the future. We know our region will continue to grow in the years to come, and laying the groundwork for balancing economic development with sustainable water management allows us to feel confident that new residents and businesses won’t have to deal with increased flooding or reduced water quality.
In order to spread the word about the ordinance and what it means for villages and cities in Cook County, MWRD is holding trainings for municipal public works managers, engineers and others who may be involved in city-level decision-making and implementation. These trainings will provide important information about the differences between the old Sewer Permit Ordinance and the Watershed Management Ordinance, as well as details about how municipalities interested in managing some parts of the Ordinance permitting process themselves can apply for this.
The times and locations for these trainings are below, and also on MWRD’s site.
Monday, April 14, 2014
12 to 4 p.m.
Palos Hills City Hall
City Council Room
10335 South Roberts Road
Palos Hills, Ill.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Prairie Center for the Arts
201 Schaumburg Court
Schaumburg, Ill.
Monday, April 21, 2014
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lincolnwood Village Hall
6900 N. Lincoln Avenue
Lincolnwood, Ill.
Friday, April 25, 2014
8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association
1906 W. 174th Street
East Hazel Crest, Ill.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Northlake City Hall
Council Chamber Room
55 E. North Avenue
Northlake, Ill.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association
1906 W. 174th Street
East Hazel Crest, Ill.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lincolnwood Village Hall
6900 N. Lincoln Avenue
Lincolnwood, Ill.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Northlake City Hall
Council Chamber Room
55 E. North Avenue
Northlake, Ill.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Palos Hills City Hall
City Council Room
10335 South Roberts Road
Palos Hills, Ill.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Prairie Center for the Arts
201 Schaumburg Court
Schaumburg, Ill.