Overview
- The McCook reservoir is reported full and the Thornton reservoir is about 94% full, with the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan holding more than 13 billion gallons of water.
- City and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District officials unveiled two West Side wing storage tanks that add roughly 1.7 million gallons of temporary stormwater storage to protect about 2,900 properties.
- Officials warn that if the system is pushed farther by more rain, untreated sewage could enter rivers, basements and streets or force controlled releases to Lake Michigan that could close beaches and pose health risks.
- The MWRD is pursuing a long-term McCook expansion to raise total TARP capacity toward roughly 17.5 billion gallons with completion targeted by the end of 2032.
- State climatologists and local officials say unusually heavy, repeated storms and saturated soils—including the intense July 3–4 downpours—have driven reservoir levels up and make further flooding more likely for Chicago and 11 listed suburbs.