RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF OCTOBER 17, 2019
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing “Imagine a Day Without Water”
Body
WHEREAS, the annual “Imagine a Day Without Water” will be held on October 23, 2019. This national day of advocacy highlights the critical importance of reliable access to clean water and the investment in infrastructure that is necessary to protect this valuable resource; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) treats wastewater for the equivalent of 10 million people and manages stormwater for the second-largest county in the country. The District plays a critical role in protecting Lake Michigan, which is the drinking water supply for many cities in the Chicagoland area; and
WHEREAS, the infrastructure which provides for the safe and reliable transportation of water is essential to the quality of life and economic vitality of Cook County. Decentralized storm water infrastructure will not only ease the burden on our sewers but will also provide a maximum return in benefits to the public, the economy, and the environment; and
WHEREAS, water crises across the country, ranging from contaminated water, drought, and flooding, show the severe impact of what can happen to public health and the well-being of a community without access to clean drinking water. Utilities nationwide are grappling with aging infrastructure and lack reliable revenue and funding to maintain and upgrade their systems; and
WHEREAS, managing water responsibly is critical to public and environmental health and investing in drinking water and wastewater systems ensures a bright and prosperous future for generations to come; and
WHEREAS, innovation in water conservation and water reuse drives job growth, economic development, and establishes a 21st century paradigm of water management. A day without water would cause $43.5 billion dollars in economic damage; and
WHEREAS, as each community’s access to clean water is different, the solution to strengthening the drinking water and wastewater systems must be community driven. However, reinvestment must be a national priority; 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 that water is essential and acknowledge the importance of education about the value of water through “Imagine a Day Without Water”; 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.
Dated: October 17, 2019