The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s (MWRD’s) Thornton Composite Reservoir is online and recently took on water for the first time. The reservoir is a major part of the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP, or “Deep Tunnel”). The reservoir does not service Western Springs, but it's completion marks important progress in the overall completion of the TARP. The McCook reservoir is closest to Western Springs and is slated for a Stage 1 completion in 2017 and a Stage 2 completion in 2029. The video in the link below shows the first use of the reservoir from the November 26th, 2015 storm event.
The Thornton Composite Reservoir provides flood protection benefits for 556,000 people in 14 communities throughout the south side of Chicago and south suburbs. It also protects 182,000 homes, businesses and other facilities and improves water quality in the Calumet Rivers and Calumet-Sag Channel by preventing combined sewer overflows.
Please visit www.mwrd.org/irj/portal/anonymous/tarp for more information on the TARP.