(Chicago) … Illinois’ population continues to grow, but its water supply does not. Meanwhile, leaky pipes, inefficient stormwater management, and uncoordinated planning and development practices add up to millions of gallons of water wasted each day. To continue to work toward improved water supply planning and conservation strategies, the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) and Openlands, both longtime advocates for sustainable water supply management, will host “Before the Wells Run Dry: Ensuring Sustainable Water Supplies in Illinois,” a half-day forum, from 8 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the offices of Drinker Biddle, 191 N. Wacker Dr., Suite 3700, Chicago.
By coordinating at the local, regional and state levels, Illinois can plan now to stave off projected water supply shortages. At the forum, MPC and Openlands will discuss proposals for policies, strategies, and investments that account for the regional nature of water supplies and local nature of water management.
The "Before the Wells Run Dry" forum is generously sponsored by Illinois American Water and Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd.
What: “Before the Wells Run Dry: Ensuring Sustainable Water Supplies in Illinois,” a forum hosted by the Metropolitan Planning Council and Openlands, to discuss proposals for improving local and regional water supply planning, conservation strategies across Illinois
When: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 8 a.m. to noon
7:30 to 8 a.m.: Light breakfast
8 a.m. to noon: Conference program
Where: Drinker Biddle, 191 N. Wacker Dr., Suite 3700, Chicago
Who:
Gov. Pat Quinn (invited)
Gerald Adelmann, Executive Director, Openlands
MarySue Barrett, President, Metropolitan Planning Council
Henry Henderson, Director, Midwest Program, Natural Resources Defense Council
Steve Wise, Director, Natural Resources Program, Center for Neighborhood Technology
Mayor Tom Weisner, City of Aurora, Ill.
Rob Montgomery, Principal and Founder, Montgomery Associates: Resource Solutions
Tim Loftus, Project Director, Northeast Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
Paul Schuch, Director of Water Resources, Kane County
Don Coursey, Ameritech Professor of Public Policy Studies, Harris School, University of Chicago
Harald Jensen, VP for Municipal Development, Veolia Water
Karla Olson Teasley, President, Illinois American Water
Dan Injerd, Chief, Lake Michigan Management, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
Karen Sands, Manager of Sustainability, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
For more information, contact Mandy Burrell Booth, Metropolitan Planning Council assistant communications director, at 312 863 6018 or mburrell@metroplanning.org; or Charles Mutscheller, Openlands communications director, at 312 863 6260 or cmutscheller@openlands.org.
