Hundreds More Chicagoans Report Flooding As Neighbors Again Asked To Scale Back Water Usage - Block Club Chicago

Hundreds More Chicagoans Report Flooding As Neighbors Again Asked To Scale Back Water Usage

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CHICAGO — Hundreds more Chicagoans saw flooded basements and streets after heavy rain this week as officials continue to urge residents to reduce how much water they use in their homes.

The city received 2,033 weather-related calls to 311 between Tuesday and Thursday as storms and even a tornado rolled through the area, said Emergency Management and Communications spokesperson Mary May. Over half of those calls were to report water in the basement and standing water in the street.

The areas with the most calls include West Lawn and West Elsdon, West Garfield Park and Austin, May said.

Those flooding reports come after a tornado touched down near O’Hare Airport around 7 p.m. Wednesday. The tornado was touching the ground intermittently as it moved northeast through central Cook County, prompting the city to activate emergency alerts.

Heavy rain rolled through the area much of the day, straining the area’s sewer system.

Officials at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago said Thursday the “mainstream tunnel” which runs through Chicago and captures stormwater and sewage is around 98 percent full.

An “ overflow action alert” was issued Tuesday as officials asked residents to reduce water use to help the sewer system. That alert has since been lifted but Chicagoans should still try to conserve water, according to the water reclamation district.

“The Overflow Action Alert has ended, but we still encourage the public to reduce their use of water before and during rain events: wait to run the dishwasher, shower and/or do the laundry,” district officials said in a statement.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office also released a statement before the storm asking Chicagoans to limit their water usage to avert flooding. Thousands of residents have already reported flooding in their basements in the aftermath of heavy rainstorms July 1-2, according to 311 data.

“To assist with moving water into the wastewater system, please do not use extra water to shower, do laundry or dishes while experiencing storm conditions,” officials with Johnson’s office said in a statement. “As our climate changes and we see heavier rain events in compressed periods of time, it is difficult for our sewer system to move the water efficiently. While it may present a temporary inconvenience, it is better for water to pool on the street than in residents’ basements.”

It wasn’t immediately clear if there is a timeline for conserving water to prevent more flooding, but more rain is in the immediate forecast.

Thursday’s weather was partly cloudy and otherwise dry, but heavy rainstorms could return to the city in the evening and continue through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

The two larger tunnel and reservoir systems in the area would take around two to three weeks to drain, provided there is no more rain, said Allison Fore, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago spokeswoman.

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