Tag Archives: Stormwater

Where does the water go?: A visit with the water level wizards at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

By Abby Crisostomo When it comes to water resources in Chicago, most people think immediately of Lake Michigan. But increasingly, the rivers, creeks, canals and channels that weave throughout the region are getting their day in the sun – from … Continue reading

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Federal bills propose innovative financing tools for water infrastructure

By Shannon Madden As the April 18 storm very potently illustrated, water infrastructure across much of northeastern Illinois needs critical attention. And as regions across the nation face challenges associated with decades-old water and sewer systems and limited federal funding … Continue reading

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Interviews reveal that stormwater requirements don’t impede development

By Shannon Madden If you’ve ever stood on the shores of Lake Zurich, you know how beautiful and clean the water is. And since you’re an avid WOWW reader, you also know that surface water quality is directly related to … Continue reading

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Two Complementary Goals for Stormwater Management: Volume Control and Water Quality Improvement

By Shannon Madden We were excited to hear – and report back to our WOWW readers – two very different stories of stormwater management in northeast Illinois at the Illinois Section American Water Works Association’s WATERCON conference in March. A … Continue reading

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Green infrastructure builds community pride in Kansas City

By Shannon Madden Kansas City recently became the first in the country to incorporate green infrastructure in its official stormwater plans. To uphold its consent decree with the U.S. EPA and address past violations of the Clean Water Act, the … Continue reading

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Rainwater Cities of the (Near) Future

By Shannon Madden In a highly urban environment like northeast Illinois, we’re used to managing stormwater by sending it down the drain as fast as possible with gutters, pipes, and pavement. But since we pay to capture, convey, and treat … Continue reading

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It’s not easy selling green (infrastructure)

By Abby Crisostomo Kirsten Bjork and Bill Brown purchased their first home in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood in May 2012, and like many first-time homeowners, they immediately started dreaming about home improvements. When they received a postcard from the Metropolitan … Continue reading

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Unseasonable Chicago weather highlights need for resilient water infrastructure

By Abby Crisostomo If you’re like me, you may have woken up the last couple mornings to get ready for your day and been a bit confused about how to deal with the weather. Do I bundle up in my … Continue reading

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Stormwater lessons from Southern California – Performance Assessment

This is the third in a three part series by MPC research assistant Matt Nichols. As explained previously in the first and second installments of this series, southern California regulations now require that all new construction and major renovations incorporate … Continue reading

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Green infrastructure: A cost-effective alternative to traditional water management

By Lauren Contorno Did you know the EPA estimates the cost of upgrading sewage systems across the country at $390 billion over the next two decades? It’s common for municipal sewage systems to have combined pipe systems to handle sanitary … Continue reading

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