CHICAGO AREA WATERWAY SYSTEM RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has determined that the water quality standards within the City of Chicago needs to be updated to provide protection to the increasing number of people who wish to use the Chicago River System; and,
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, which has a service population of greater than five million people, and that this proposal would require the disinfection of wastewater from their North Side and Calumet Water sewerage treatment facilities; and,
WHEREAS, the Chicago Area Waterway System has been transformed into a valuable recreation asset that citizen increasingly use for boating, canoeing, kayaking, jet and water skiing, tubing and swimming; and,
WHEREAS, according to the Friends of the Chicago River, the City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District have spent more than $100 million improving public access, including boat launches, river walks and waterfront parks along what is considered our second shoreline; and,
WHEREAS, City of Chicago's River Agenda is to improve water quality, protect nature and wildlife in the city, balance river uses, enhance neighborhood and community life through careful stewardship of the river will ensure that it remains viable for all; and,
WHEREAS, continued improvement of the Chicago Area Waterway System will help preserve Chicago's position as a world class city and leader in urban conservation movement; through careful stewardship of the river which will ensure that it remains viable for all of the critical roles it plays in the life of our City; and,
WHEREAS, in a report to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Chicago Area Water System is long overdue on updating its water quality standards to provide the Clean Water Act protections that must accompany this transformation, now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Committee on Health, Energy and Environmental Protection hold hearing(s) w...
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