The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) has been working around the clock to provide flood protection for Cook County. We monitor the weather, and prior to major storms, we draw down the waterways to provide maximum capacity for stormwater. Our goal is to provide maximum capacity in the area waterways, tunnels and reservoir system to provide as much protection from flooding as possible.

When the Chicago area waterway levels are higher than Lake Michigan and predetermined elevations are reached, the MWRD opens control structures to move as much water as possible out of the system. This provides overbank flooding protection as well as more capacity for stormwater.  

More than 5 inches of rain fell in a short period of time throughout Cook County this weekend. The Stickney Water Reclamation Plant is operating at full capacity.

We reversed the North Shore Channel at Wilmette and at the downtown locks.  

Here is the timeframe of the two reversals:

North Shore Channel/Wilmette

Start      2:27 PM (7/2)

End        9:47 PM (7/2)

Chicago River/downtown

Start      4:00 PM (7/2)

End        2:30 a.m. (7/3)

7-3 storm update.pdf