Reference articles

[derekeder]

Some articles to help provide context in to the history of Chicago's waterways regarding flood prevention and sewage discharge.

• http://www.salon.com/2013/02/24/cry_us_a_river_partner/
• http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-04-18/news/chi-flooding-forces-sewage-to-be-diverted-into-lake-michigan-20130418_1_sewage-overflows-chicago-river-locks-and-gates
• http://www.dailywhale.com/content-preview/eb2628e2081c3a62a1757bba96f68ef7/
• http://www.theatlanticcities.com/politics/2014/01/century-later-expensive-lesson-reversing-chicago-river/8069/

[derekeder]

http://www.inillinoiswater.org/story/ten-times-too-much-pollution-is-way-too-much/

[derekeder]

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/aalexander/mwrd_water_permits_illinois_ep.html

[fgregg]

http://www.anl.gov/articles/argonne-partners-metropolitan-water-reclamation-district-study-chicago-river-microbe

[derekeder]

On the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant:

• http://gizmodo.com/5844925/chicagos-stickney-wastewater-treatment-plant-is-the-crappiest-place-on-earth
• http://gapersblock.com/thegrid/2013/12/02/stickney-water-reclamation-plant/index.php

[andreweskeclarke]

There is a slide deck online about another group's efforts to track CSO events, and history of these events. It appears they were working with the city government, and did specfic storm analysis:

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/iwrc/pdf/presentations/Andrea%20Zimmer.pdf

[fgregg]

Great find! Will you reach out to them and see if we can meet up and share data.

On Thursday, February 20, 2014, andreweskeclarke notifications@github.com wrote:

There is a slide deck online about another group's efforts to track CSO events, and history of these events. It appears they were working with the city government, and did specfic storm analysis:

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/iwrc/pdf/presentations/Andrea%20Zimmer.pdf

— Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHubhttps://github.com/open-city/chicago-river-sewage/issues/14#issuecomment-35675496 .

773.888.2718 2231 N. Monticello Ave Chicago, IL 60647

[fgregg]

@andreweskeclarke why do you think they were working with the city? Also worth noting that this work was from 2008.

[derekeder]

On the Feb 19 snowmelt & rain:

MWRD issued a winter flooding alert

Also, according to someone on everyblock who saw the news, the TARP reservoir is currently at 75% capacity.

[andreweskeclarke]

@fgregg I assumed they worked with the city due to the data slide mentioning "Outfall inventory compiled by MWRD cross-referenced with City of Chicago inventory" and "CSO reports compiled by MWRD for the period 10/21/04-12/31/07." However, that doesn't necessarily mean they worked for the city, I may have jumped to conclusions.

[derekeder]

WBEZ Curious City answered a question about road salt going in to Lake Michigan. Turns out (as you probably know) it actually just goes in to the river.

http://www.wbez.org/series/curious-city/how-much-road-salt-ends-lake-michigan-109814

[derekeder]

Latest info on measuring water quality:

WTTW: http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2014/02/04/chicago-river-bacteria Argonne water quality study: http://www.anl.gov/articles/argonne-partners-metropolitan-water-reclamation-district-study-chicago-river-microbe