Chicago area urged to curb water use as storms threaten sewer system

As more storms roll in, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District has declared an Overflow Action Day and is urging Chicago-area residents to cut water use (shorter showers, fewer dishwasher runs, delayed laundry) to ease pressure on the Deep Tunnel (TARP) system. Reservoirs are filling quickly, with McCook at about 95% capacity (nearly 5 billion gallons) and Thornton around 58%, raising the risk of overflows that could release untreated sewage into area rivers or Lake Michigan and cause flooding or beach closures.