Flooding Alert: Chicago-Area Residents Asked to Conserve Water
What’s Happening:
An "Overflow Action Day" has been issued by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) due to heavy rain expected to hit the Chicago area this week. The rain is expected to persist into Tuesday, with some parts of the area seeing at least 1-to-3 inches of rain, with locally heavier totals possible.
What Does This Mean?
To prevent overflowing of storm water management systems, the MWRD is asking residents to take certain precautions. These include:
- Delaying baths or showers when possible
- Flushing toilets less frequently
- Avoiding high-water-usage appliances like dishwashers and washing machines
Why is This Important?
Overflow action alerts are used by MWRD to keep excess water from entering sewer systems. If too much water enters these systems, it can lead to flooding, including into the basements of residences and businesses. In severe cases, this can result in the release of untreated or partially treated wastewater into the Chicago River.
When Can We Expect the Heaviest Rain?
The heaviest rain is expected to fall on Sunday night and into Monday morning, causing localized street flooding in areas with poor drainage. Additionally, falling leaves can clog sewer drains, which can exacerbate this flooding.
Will There Be Any Breaks in the Rain?
There will be dry periods while the storm system moves through, but locally heavy rain could still fall at times, with some embedded thunderstorms even possible.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What is an "Overflow Action Day"?
A: An "Overflow Action Day" is a declaration by MWRD to take precautions to prevent overflowing of storm water management systems.
Q: Why is this important?
A: Preventing overflowing of storm water management systems helps to prevent flooding and the release of untreated or partially treated wastewater into the Chicago River.
Q: What can I do to help?
A: You can delay taking baths or showers, flush toilets less frequently, and avoid high-water-usage appliances like dishwashers and washing machines.
Q: What happens if I don’t take these precautions?
A: If you don’t take these precautions, flooding could occur, including into the basements of your home and business. In severe cases, this could also lead to the release of untreated or partially treated wastewater into the Chicago River.
