RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF MARCH 16, 2017
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing Friends of the Chicago River for the Overflow Action Days initiative
Body
WHEREAS, Friends of the Chicago River launched the Overflow Action Days initiative in 2016 to help educate area residents on how using less water at home when weather forecasts predict significant rain can reduce the load overwhelming the sewer system; and
WHEREAS, heavy storms can stress older Chicago area sewer systems, and when this happens a combined sewer overflow (CSO) can occur in the systems that are not separate. This CSO is a mixture of rain and wastewater that spills into waterways, sometimes including Lake Michigan; and
WHEREAS, although the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s Tunnel and Reservoir Plan has helped to greatly reduce the number of CSOs and the resulting water pollution, it cannot accomplish this stewardship alone. Area residents can help keep water from entering the water treatment system in the first place and thus reserve space in the sewers to accommodate rain water; and
WHEREAS, based on the concept of Ozone Action Days, Overflow Action alerts are sent to remind members to conserve water before and during rain events. Actions such as delaying showers or reducing their length, flushing less, and waiting to run the dishwasher can help reduce the amount of water in the sewer system; and
WHEREAS, MWRD leadership stands committed to working with Friends of the Chicago River to ensure area waterways are protected on Overflow Action Days; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff, do hereby recognize Friends of the Chicago River for the Overflow Action Days initiative; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to Margaret Frisbie, Executive Director of Friends of the Chicago River.
Dated: March 16, 2017
Approved: MARIYANA T. SPYROPOULOS, President; BARBARA J. MCGOWAN, Vice President; FRANK AVILA, Chairman, Committee on Finance; TIMOTHY BRADFORD; MARTIN J. DURKAN; JOSINA MORITA; DEBRA SHORE; KARI K. STEELE; DAVID J. WALSH; Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Approved as to Form and Legality: Ronald M. Hill, General Counsel, RMH:aw