MWRD Issues Overflow Action Alert
With more rain expected in the Chicago area starting Friday evening, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) encourages area residents and business owners to reduce water use during and after the storm to help prevent flooding and protect water quality:
* Delay showers and baths
* Flush less frequently
* Wait to run the dishwasher or washing machine
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flood watch for northern Cook County, in effect from 3 p.m. this afternoon through late Friday. With more than 3.15 inches of rain falling across the Chicago area between Tuesday and Thursday, the NWS reports that approximately 5.47 inches of rain have fallen so far this month—well above the normal April total of about 2 inches. This month’s rainfall is on pace to rival the April record of 8.68 inches, the wettest April on record. Meteorologists note that increasingly frequent heavy‑rain events are consistent with broader trends linked to a changing climate. Additionally, this marks the sixth overflow action alert in the past two months.
“Our staff is managing billions of gallons of water at our seven water reclamation plants and through our Tunnel and Reservoir Plan to protect our water environment and mitigate flooding,” said MWRD President Kari K. Steele. “As we deal with this fast-changing weather this week, we encourage everyone to conserve water, when possible, to create more capacity in our systems.”
Learn more about Combined Sewer Overflow prevention
Sign up to receive Overflow Action Alerts via text
Learn what you should do during flooding
For more information and explanations about how the MWRD’s infrastructure and waterway system operate, visit these links:
Learn about the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP)
Understand how the Chicago Area Waterway System works
Learn about the types of sewer systems in Cook County
Request a presentation for your community
Municipal partners can explore stormwater partnership opportunities
The top of the MWRD’s website displays a notification if an Overflow Action Alert is active.
Overflow Action Alerts are a joint initiative of the MWRD and Friends of the Chicago River.