Water Quality

Water is vital to our health and well-being. It is an economic driver, a recreational asset, and a haven for a rich diversity of wildlife. Because water plays such an important role, Openlands carefully examines the relationship between development practices and water quality. In 2004, we published Changing Course, which evaluates federal, state, and local water policies and offers recommendations for balancing regional growth and water resources in the region. Openlands has also advocated for several approaches to improving water quality, including...

Watershed Planning—Changing Course highlighted the urgent need for watershed planning, with the realization that each community cannot individually prevent flooding or protect the quality of water resources that cross jurisdictional boundaries. In 2007, Openlands joined with Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) and Campaign for Sensible Growth to produce Preserving the Kishwaukee Watershed and Reclaiming Trim Creek, which illustrate how participating communities have agreed to be guided by customized sustainable development practices to protect their watersheds’ resources. Read more...

Water Quality Standards—Openlands actively supports the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) proposal to strengthen water quality standards for people and wildlife on the Chicago Area Waterways (CAWS) and Lower Des Plaines River. People are increasingly drawn to these waterways for relaxation and recreation, and they are integral parts of the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Trails Plan.

Recognizing significant improvements to the CAWS and Lower Des Plaines River over the last thirty-five years, the IEPA has requested that the Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB) adopt standards that require better temperature controls, more oxygen in the water for fish to live and reproduce, and disinfection of about 1.17 billion gallons of treated sewage that Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago discharges into the CAWS every day. Read more...

Facility Planning Areas (Sewage Treatment)—Over the last decade, Openlands has advocated for mandatory review of how and where sewage treatment plants can expand in Illinois. Facility planning areas (FPAs) are areas where communities may extend sewers and offer centralized wastewater treatment. The FPA process plays an important role in determining where growth takes place and has strong ramifications for our streams and wetlands. Read more...

Stormwater Management Best Practices—Openlands has collaborated with numerous organizations to promote better stormwater management practices throughout our state. Stormwater runoff is one of the most insidious threats to water quality in our region. Flood waters can inundate homes, and building over natural areas can prevent rainwater from sinking back into the ground to replenish our drinking water. Stormwater can pollute streams with oil, metals, and fertilizers; erode streambanks; and flush our waterways with sediment, harming fish and other wildlife that live in these areas. Read more...

For more information about water quality issues, please contact Openlands Policy Coordinator Stacy Meyers-Glen via e-mail or by phone at 312-863-6265.