In an effort to deal with possible future water shortages in the Chicago region, the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission has developed a draft Strategic Plan for Water Resource Management with public hearings on the plan scheduled beginning May 16, 2001. Recent analyses of population growth, water demand, and water supply predict that some of the fastest- growing townships are likely to have water shortages by the year 2020 and many others will have shortages beyond that. Among the townships facing the most serious potential shortages are Hanover, Naperville, St. Charles, and Grafton.

The plan is intended to guide the region in dealing with other water issues as well including stormwater and flooding and water quality. In each area, the draft plan recommends a series of strategies and identifies the entities to implement them; it also suggests new legislation, funding for research, changes in agency practices or funding allocations, and improved public education.

According to NIPC President Herbert T. Schumann Jr., "Water is key to our regional prosperity. We must plan now for potential shortages and develop ways to assure a sustainable water supply. We also have to deal with the issue of flooding, which in July, 1996, alone caused more than $77 million worth of damage in Cook, DuPage, Kane, and Will counties."

Details of the upcoming NIPC hearings are:

NIPC will accept comments on the draft plan until 5 p.m., May 25, 2001. The Commission will consider adoption of the Strategic Plan for Water Resource Management at its June 28, 2001 meeting.

For more information or for copies of the draft plan, please contact Sarah Nerenberg, (312) 454-0401 x304, nerenber@nipc.org. or Alice Kaderlan, (312) 454-0401 x 707, kaderlan@nipc.org. The draft plan and directions to the hearing locations can be viewed on NIPC’s web site, http://www.nipc.org/water_plan_hearings.htm.

The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission was created by the Illinois Legislature to undertake comprehensive planning for the six-county metropolitan area. NIPC also provides technical and research assistance and reviews state and federal grant requests for local governments.

northeastern illinois planning commission
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