ACT! IT’S AN OVERFLOW ACTION DAY
OVERFLOW ACTION ALERT ISSUED
  For immediate release May 7, 2024 Overflow Action Alert issued Heavy rain is expected in the Chicagoland area. Reduce your use of water before, during and after the storm to help prevent flooding and protect water quality: Delay showers and bathsFlush less frequentlyWait to run the dishwasher or washing machine Flooding and sewer backups can happen for a variety of reasons, ranging from conveyance of water flow in local pipes, the groundwater table, undersized drainage designs and roof loads, and sump pumps attached to house lines. To help prevent flooding inside or around your home, there are actions you and your family can take before and during rainfall. Learn more about how to prepare for stormwater at this link: https://mwrd.org/community-action/you-can-help-prevent-flooding-and-protect-water-quality. MWRD staff work 24/7 protecting the water environment, mitigating flooding, managing waterway elevations, and keeping operations moving at its seven water reclamation plants. The MWRD treats an average of 1.47 billion gallons of wastewater per day, but that number can soar above 2 billion with intensive rainstorms. After consecutive days of rain, there is less capacity for the MWRD to hold and treat the additional water. Learn more about Combined Sewer Overflow prevention here: https://mwrd.org/community-action/overflow-action Sign up to receive Overflow Action Alerts via text https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/YhH2xGP/MWRDSignup Learn what you should do during flooding: https://mwrd.org/community-action/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) https://mwrd.org/what-we-do/tunnel-and-reservoir-plan-tarp Understand how the Chicago Area Waterway System works https://mwrd.org/what-we-do/reducing-flooding/chicago-area-waterway-system-caws Learn about the types of sewer systems in Cook County https://mwrd.org/community-action/understanding-your-sewer Request a presentation for your community https://mwrd.org/education/speakers-and-outreach Tour our facilities https://mwrd.org/education/tours Municipal partners can review stormwater partnership opportunities https://mwrd.org/stormwater/partnerships # # # |