Our water is worth more than we think

From Lake Michigan to the Fox River, how we use our water resources—including what we conserve, how much we waste, and what we choose to invest in water quality—is up to all of us. What Our Water's Worth is an ongoing campaign led by the Metropolitan Planning Council and Openlands to raise awareness about the value of water in northeastern Illinois and northwestern Indiana.

Water stories

Where does the water go?: A visit with the water level wizards at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

By Abby Crisostomo When it comes to water resources in Chicago, most people think immediately of Lake Michigan. But increasingly, the rivers, creeks, canals and channels that weave throughout the region are getting their day in the sun – from investments in the Chicago Riverwalk to community improvements along the Cal-Sag Channel to talks of re-reversing the river system to combat invasive species. A far cry from the natural streams and wetlands that existed before the city, for the past century these waterways have been a highly managed network – the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) – controlled and manipulated by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) wit… Continue »

Read more water stories »

The WOWW factor

76 miles of rivers and canals managed by MWRD along with 32 retention reservoirs

Conservation tip

Residents can help reduce the risk of flooding by managing rainwater on their own property. For example, residents can store 55 gallons of water in a rain barrel (which can be purchased from the MWRD or at a home improvement store) for later use.

Featured resource

Contact MWRD's 24 hour hotline (1-800-332-DUMP) to report a dump or spill into a sewer or into the CAWS.

Read a new story every month by signing up for the What Our Water's Worth e-newsletter. Sign up for Openlands' e-newsletter to stay informed about conservation initiatives in the Chicago region.