Delay or reduce shower time
Every gallon you save leaves more room in the sewers for rain.
Flood Preparedness
Overflow Action Alerts.
In most of the Chicago area, rainwater and household wastewater share the same pipes. When a big storm hits, that water can overwhelm the sewers faster than they can handle it — leading to backups into basements and streets, and overflows into our rivers.
Get a heads-up before the storm.
MWRD sends free Overflow Action Alerts by text or email whenever heavy rain is forecast — a simple reminder to ease up on water use that day, so sewers have more room to handle the storm.
When You Get an Alert
A few small changes go a long way.
Put off running the dishwasher
Wait until skies clear before running a full load.
Wait to wash clothes
Hold off on laundry until the storm has passed and sewers have room again.
Swap in water-efficient fixtures
Look for the EPA WaterSense label when replacing faucets, showerheads, and toilets.
Want to learn more about combined sewer overflows and how MWRD manages stormwater citywide? Read the official overview.