"Chicago-area residents asked to delay showers, use less water amid storms," NBC Chicago
NBC Chicago: According to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, an “Overflow Action Day” was issued Wednesday morning.
Chicago-area residents have been asked to reduce water use, including delaying showers and not doing laundry, as another round of rain with potential flooding and possibly severe storms heads toward the region.
According to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, an “Overflow Action Day” was issued Wednesday morning. Under the alert, MWRD officials are asking residents to take steps to reduce their water usage during and after the storms in an effort to limit the amount of water that goes into sewer systems.
The main requests include:
- Delay showers and baths
- Flush less frequently
- Wait to run the dishwasher or washing machine
If too much water enters sewer systems, it can lead to flooding, including into the basements of residences and businesses.
Particularly severe flooding can result in the release of untreated or partially treated wastewater into the Chicago River or Lake Michigan, something the agency actively seeks to avoid.
The National Weather Service has already issued a flood watch for all of northeastern Illinois and northwest Indiana. Set to go into effect at 1 p.m., the flood watch will last through Thursday morning as showers are expected to continue overnight.
"Several rounds of locally heavy rainfall from thunderstorms are expected today through Thursday morning," the NWS said. "Each round may produce 1 to 2 inches of rainfall, though locally higher amounts are possible."
According to the overflow action alert, there are a number of other steps residents can also take to reduce the amount of water entering sewage systems. Those include the installation of rain gardens or rain barrels on properties. Landscaping with native plants or planting more trees will also help to absorb more water.
Even replacing paved surfaces with water-absorbing materials can also help, according to the MWRD website.