Road salt helps protect pedestrians, bikers, and drivers by lowering the freezing point of water, which prevents ice from forming. The use of salt is widespread, with Chicago alone using at least 320,000 tons of salt one winter to control ice on…
After a century of using more water than can be replaced, northeastern Illinois’ deep sandstone aquifers are declining. That’s why the Northwest Water Planning Alliance (NWPA) came together in 2010 to protect and plan for shared river and groundwater resources in DeKalb,…
Communities in western Will County are working together to identify alternative water sources that can lower their dependency on a sandstone aquifer in danger of running dry. Aquifers are underground layers of permeable material that produce water for residents and…
Communities throughout northeastern Illinois typically see a surge in outdoor water usage, starting in May and peaking in July, as residents and businesses look to keep their lawns green and lush during the summer. But increased usage and inefficient watering…
While the world is focused on addressing the impacts of the pandemic, communities in our region still face serious risk from floods and severe storms this season. Illinois has never seen a year go by without damage from severe storms, with more…
Population growth and industrial development, particularly in the collar counties, has led to increasing groundwater withdrawals in the Chicago region. In some areas, groundwater is being withdrawn at a rate that exceeds the recharge rate, resulting in decreasing yields, increasing pumping…
On Tuesday, October 23, the president signed into law an act authorizing programs to improve the nation’s water resources infrastructure. The America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA 2018) includes both the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (WRDA 2018)…