• Metropolitan Planning Council
  • Openlands

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

The NWPA encompasses roughly 80 communities in five counties.Northwest Water Planning Alliance Ready to Work

By Kaitlyn McClain The Northwest Water Planning Alliance, a consortium of roughly 80 groundwater and surface water communities in DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, Lake and McHenry counties,  took a big step forward on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013, when the Executive Committee approved the group’s first Strategic Plan since its establishment in 2010. The creation of the plan was made possible by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s  Local Technical Assistance program, which provides planning assistance to communities in the region to advance planning projects that align with GO TO 2040 goals. Tim Loftus, water resource planner at Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, facilitated discussions t… Continue »

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The WOWW factors

5.1 inches of rain fell in Chicagoland on April 18, 2013

 

8.57 feet New record height of Chicago River reached during storm

 

90 percent of Illinois flood aid applicants are from Chicago

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Where does your water come from?

Click on the map below to find out where your water comes from. Once you know where your water comes from, click on the corresponding droplet to find out more about your water source.

Learn more about our region's water sources.