Shared Waters, Shared Future Workshop Series

Supporting a sustainable shared water supply in northeastern Illinois

Northeastern Illinois depends on shared water resources that cross community and county boundaries. To secure a reliable and sustainable water future for our region, communities, utilities, and organizations must plan ahead, coordinate across boundaries, and adopt conservation strategies.

Shared Waters, Shared Future is a five-part virtual workshop series designed to bring people together to address the region’s pressing water supply issues.

Water challenges require proactive, collaborative solutions. Through interactive sessions, expert presentations, and collaborative exercises, this workshop series will help participants gain actionable strategies and planning tools to improve water management and efficiency.

Join us to ensure that our shared waters lead to a shared, sustainable future.

The series is hosted by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant with support from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Water Resources.

Upcoming workshops

Strengthening Illinois’ high-capacity well impact review process (September 10)

As communities face growing water demands, Illinois has an opportunity to strengthen how new high-capacity groundwater withdrawals are evaluated and managed. This workshop will provide an overview of Illinois’ current framework and highlight approaches to high-capacity well review used in other states. Participants will explore options for strengthening Illinois’ approach to high-capacity well review.

Understanding water governance and management in Illinois (November 12)

Understand agency roles, governance gaps, and opportunities for stronger statewide coordination.

Who should attend

Local government staff and elected officials
Water utility managers and technical staff
Regional planners and policy professionals
Community-based organizations and educators
Residents and advocates interested in protecting local water resources

What to expect

Each workshop will focus on a critical water supply issue, with expert presentations, peer case studies, and interactive discussions that highlight real-world solutions. Participants will:

Plan and prepare: Explore strategies for long-term water supply planning, governance, and financing.
Save and share: Learn practical conservation and efficiency measures to protect resources for current and future generations.
Connect and coordinate: Build partnerships across agencies, utilities, and communities to foster regional collaboration and problem-solving.

Workshop recordings and materials

Find recordings and materials from past workshops.

Explore strategies, challenges, and successes for coordinating water management across agencies, utilities, and communities.

Workshop slides

Learn how communities can move from understanding water supply challenges to developing practical sustainability plans. This workshop will introduce water sustainability planning, highlight peer examples, and explore how water supply considerations can be integrated into planning.

Workshop slides

Water sustainability planning framework

This workshop focuses on climate and drought preparedness for water utilities and communities, highlighting tools, data integration, and strategies to maintain reliable water service under changing conditions.

Participants will gain practical approaches and tools to incorporate climate variability and drought preparedness into water planning and decision making, strengthening long-term system resilience.