Clean Water Principles

Clean Water for the Chicago River

The Chicago River weaves its way through our communities; it binds neighbor-hoods, towns and cities together. Its waters bring life to a startling array of flora and fauna, a scenic respite for residents, and economic opportunities for local businesses. Protecting its waters and wildlife, its recreational possibilities, and its role in commerce and as a transportation corridor is imperative to protecting this region’s economic, social and environmental health.

1. WHEREAS clean water is everyone’s right and responsibility, we support collaborations between government, business, and individuals to achieve the goal of a clean, healthy Chicago River.

2. WHEREAS the Chicago River system is a combination of natural and man-made channels and canals, we support working to preserve and enhance the character of the Chicago River and its uses for plants, animals and humans.

3. WHEREAS the Chicago River is impacted by any action taken within its watershed, we support efforts to improve the health of the Chicago River undertaken from a watershed perspective.

4. WHEREAS the Chicago River is affected by all land use in its watershed and the retention of open space is crucial, we support protecting and maintaining the current amount of open space within the watershed.

5. WHEREAS stormwater is a valuable natural resource, we support preserving, protecting, and utilizing the stormwater that falls within the Chicago River watershed.

6. WHEREAS there are numerous methods for controlling stormwater, which is integral to the improved health of the Chicago River, we support the development and use of green infrastructure to protect stormwater and the Chicago River.

7. WHEREAS it is critical to employ a fiscally responsible approach to clean water infrastructure, we support developing local financial incentives for funding clean water initiatives especially for updating aging sewage infrastructure, utilizing bioengineering techniques along riverbanks, and installing green infrastructure throughout the watershed.


8. WHEREAS Phase One of the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP) has dramatically improved the health of the Chicago River, and completing the Phase Two reservoirs is a critical component in an overall strategy to restore the aquatic health of the river, we support developing additional (non-federal) financing mechanisms to ensure TARP is completed as soon as possible.

9. WHEREAS combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are the remnants of an outdated infrastructure system and a major impairment to the aquatic health of the Chicago River, we support developing a timeline for the total elimination of CSOs on the Chicago River through effective stormwater management and completing TARP.

10. WHEREAS the Illinois EPA is currently conducting a Use Attainability Analysis (UAA) on the Chicago River Waterway System to assess if the Chicago River has appropriate water quality standards to protect people and wildlife, we support an upgrade in water quality standards and the implementation of methods to meet them.

11. WHEREAS public use of the Chicago River for paddling, fishing, and other recreational activities is growing, and effluent from water reclamation facilities on the Chicago River contains levels of bacteria and other pathogens that are incompatible with this increasing use, we support cost effective disinfection of all effluent from water reclamation facilities on the Chicago River to protect public health.

12. WHEREAS community support through individual efforts contribute to the health and future of the Chicago River, we encourage citizens to participate in river improvement activities at a local level, including involvement in Friends of the Chicago River’s annual stewardship event, Chicago River Day.


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