'Chicago-area residents asked to reduce water usage as reservoirs fill up,' NBC 5

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As severe thunderstorms have repeatedly hammered the Chicago area this week, officials are asking residents to reduce their water usage.

Ahead of another round of thunderstorms Wednesday, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District issued an "Overflow Action Alert," asking residents to delay showers and to take other steps to reduce their water usage amid continuing stresses on the region's water management systems.

hat water management system is known as the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP), or the "Deep Tunnel" project. That system helps funnel water from the Chicago area into a series of reservoirs through a collection of underwater tunnels, keeping that untreated wastewater out of area waterways.

During times of repeated heavy rain however that system can potentially run the risk of overflowing, and area reservoirs are feeling the strain of recent showers and storms. According to the latest data from the MWRD, the McCook Reservoir is currently at 97% capacity, with approximately five billion gallons of water being stored there in preparation for treatment.

Another 5.6 billion gallons of water were being held in the Thornton Reservoir, which is approximately 66% full as of Wednesday afternoon.

As a result, officials are asking residents to delay showers and baths, and to wait to run dishwashers or to do laundry amid the continuing run of severe weather.

If the TARP system becomes too full of water, untreated sewage can make its way into area rivers and can overflow from sewers, leading to neighborhood and basement flooding, according to officials.

Officials may also be forced to release untreated water into Lake Michigan to alleviate pressure on the TARP system, which would lead to beach closures and potential health hazards.

The TARP system has expanded its capacity in recent years, but it's still been heavily taxed this year by heavy rains in the region. According to MWRD officials, the McCook Reservoir has already hit capacity six times so far this year. It had only reached capacity five times in the previous five years combined, according to officials.

The Thornton Reservoir also set a record this year for water collection, at one point holding more than seven billion gallons of water.

More showers and storms could impact the area in coming days, with the entire area at a "marginal" risk of severe weather on both Thursday and Friday according to the Storm Prediction Center.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-area-residents-asked-to-reduce-water-usage-as-reservoirs-fill-up/3974516/