Underground storage project aims to fix chronic flooding in Chicago

Brett Chase

8h agoen

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Chicago Sun-TimesUnderground storage project aims to fix chronic flooding in Chicagosuntimes.com

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A concrete water storage unit is seen in the 5500 block of W. LeMoyne Street in Austin.

A worker operates an excavator in the 5500 block of W. LeMoyne Street in Austin

A resident walks to the trash bin near a construction site for flood mitigation infrastructure in the 5500 block of W. LeMoyne Street in Austin.

A resident walks near pipes in the 1400 block of North Linder Avenue in Austin.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago President Kari K. Steele (in brown) and Chicago Department of Water Management Commissioner Randy Conner (in blue) shows Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson a pit in the ground where a concrete block culvert is installed.

The 5500 block of W. LeMoyne Street in Austin is seen in this photo Tuesday where construction of underground water storage units that will hold excess water is underway to help mitigate flooding.

The 5500 block of W. LeMoyne Street in Austin is seen in this photo Tuesday.

A worker operates an excavator in the 5500 block of W. LeMoyne Street in Austin on Tuesday.

Together, the two projects are designed to hold 1.7 million gallons of water that will be held in the underground storage until additional stormwater that enters the sewers has a chance to drain into the so-called Deep Tunnel system. Chicago’s Deep Tunnel, which sends floodwaters through more than 100 miles of tunnels into three reservoirs. Built over a half century, the system was created to protect Lake Michigan and other waterways as well as help prevent flooding.

The news conference followed the announcement a day earlier that the massive Deep Tunnel suburban reservoirs were nearly full after a month of heavy rain. The problem pointed to the need for additional flood control.

Those reservoirs were still mostly full Tuesday.

“There’s no one silver bullet,” said Kari Steele, board president of the water reclamation district.

As for concerns about the flood-control reservoirs nearing full capacity, Steele defended the multibillion-dollar civil engineering plan, saying “it is doing exactly what it was designed to do.”

Scientists have predicted more intense storms in the coming years, which adds pressure on planners and politicians that are charged with keeping people safe during extreme weather events. Johnson said that became clear to him after the 2023 floods.

“As I said three years ago, these 100-year storms were going to become more and more regular,” Johnson said.