'Thornton Reservoir down to 73% capacity as drainage continues,' Daily Southtown

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By Olivia Stevens | [email protected] | Daily Southtown

PUBLISHED: July 14, 2026 at 3:41 PM CDT

The Thornton Composite Reservoir has dropped to 73% full after nearly reaching capacity last week, as the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago continues working to reduce odors and drain the reservoir.

Patrick Thomas, senior public affairs specialist for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, said in an email Tuesday the reservoir will likely not be empty for several more weeks, depending on upcoming rainfall and conditions at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, where water from the reservoir is treated.

The reservoir reached 94% capacity, the fullest it has been since becoming operational in 2015, after pouring rain swept through the suburbs July 4 and 5. Before that, the highest water level of the reservoir was at 54.5% full in 2019.

Odors from the 450-feet deep pit full of combined sewer and rainwater appeared to have largely dissipated by Monday evening. Thornton Village Clerk Nikki Kitakis last week complained of a "horrific" stench in the surrounding area.

"The stench is putrid, and it affects all facets of life because it smells so terrible," Kitakis told the Daily Southtown.

Thornton Village Administrator Vivian Payne said Tuesday reports of bad odors coming from the reservoir were sensationalized by the media and "a lot of residents don't ever smell it."

"Basically, what everybody's telling me is that it just depends on which way the wind is blowing, and how low (the water level) is," Payne said, adding the village did not receive any odor complaints over the past week.

Payne said the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is extremely responsive to concerns about the reservoir. A quarterly report the village received from the agency in May reported two projects meant to mitigate odors near the reservoir should be completed by mid-2026.

One of the two projects is the installation of a carbon filter odor control system to treat exhaust from deep tunnel drop shafts located northeast of the reservoir, at Indiana Avenue and State Street, Thomas said. The other is the implementation of an odor neutralizing system that includes a nontoxic, nonhazardous, biodegradable and nonflammable mist along the reservoir's perimeter.

The total cost of the two ongoing projects is $5 million.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District previously spent $3.6 million on other odor neutralization efforts, including scientific studies, deploying monitoring sensors, and other infrastructure investments, according to the agency, in response to past complaints of a sewage smell coming from the reservoir.

In the meantime, Thomas said the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is "closely monitoring conditions" and routinely sends staff to conduct odor patrols around the reservoir.

"The reservoir is part of a large, complex tunnel and reservoir system - one of the first of its kind and unmatched in scale. This system provides substantial protection to surrounding communities by capturing stormwater, reducing flooding and protecting water quality," Thomas said. "We understand that there are limitations to these systems, including the potential for odor concerns, and we continue to work to address them."

Most recent analytical sensor readings are near zero and in most areas below detection, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District said in a news release Friday.

"During certain operational phases, however, odors can be present," according to the release. Thomas encouraged residents to report odors by submitting a notice through the agency's citizen reporting website.

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced Tuesday low interest federal disaster loans are available for Illinois small businesses, private nonprofits and residents affected by severe storms and tornadoes on June 11.

Businesses and private nonprofits can borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged assets while homeowners and renters can borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property or up to $500,000 to repair or replace their primary residences, according to a federal agency news release. More information is available at lending.sba.gov/search-disaster/.