A soggy start to summer with near-record rainfall has left Chicago’s Deep Tunnel stormwater retention system almost full.
The Deep Tunnel, which was constructed over the course of more than five decades, is a system of underground tunnels and reservoirs that captures and stores stormwater and sewage that could otherwise overflow into waterways.

This weekend’s heavy rainfall in the Chicago area has helped to fuel record amounts of stormwater being stored in Cook County’s reservoirs, nearly 20,000 Olympic-size swimming pools’ worth.

The Thornton Reservoir, which serves many surrounding south suburbs, is nearing capacity after storms swept through the area this past weekend. FOX Chicago’s Joanie Lum has the latest on its condition.

Thornton Reservoir nearly full after heavy storms over weekend

Mayor Johnson lauds a $12 million pilot project to build underground storage in Austin aimed at capturing floodwater before it overwhelms outdated sewers. The city hopes the concept can be a model for other neighborhoods.

The MWRD and Chicago’s Department of Water Management came up with an innovative retrofit for a part of the city hit hard by previous storms.

Several days of heavy rain have filled parts of Chicago’s Deep Tunnel system for the first time ever. Now the city is turning to more local projects to stop flooding that devastated parts of the west side in 2023.

Construction is underway on a new underground stormwater storage facility in Chicago's Austin neighborhood. It's part of a broader effort to increase stormwater storage capacity on the city's West Side. While the project will not be completed until the fall, officials say its long-term significance is critical.

The City of Chicago Department of Water Management and the Metropolitan Water District of Greater Chicago Tuesday are set to unveil two giant underground stormwater storage units meant to help reduce flooding in parts of the city.

The Thornton Reservoir is nearly full.