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Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS)

Sewer outfall into the river.

Over 100 miles of rivers and canals form the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS), which connects Lake Michigan with the Mississippi River via the Lower Des Plaines and Illinois rivers. The CAWS includes the Chicago River, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, the Cal-Sag Channel and the Calumet Rivers.

The CAWS once served strictly as a barge highway and open sewer to carry waste away from Lake Michigan. In the last 20 years, kayaking, canoeing, boating and jet and water skiing have become popular activities on the CAWS, while residential, retail and restaurant developments have popped up along the banks. These new uses have prompted a decade-long debate on improving water quality in the CAWS and Lower Des Plaines River.

May 2012: EPA Supports Strong Water Quality Standards to Protect Public Health

Map of Effective Water Quality Standards for Chicago Area Waterway System and Lower Des Plaines River

Map of Effective Water Quality Standards for the CAWS and Lower Des Plaines River. (click to enlarge)

EPA has completed its review of Illinois' September 2011 submission of new and revised water quality standards for the CAWS and Lower Des Plaines River. EPA's May 2012 action letter includes the approval of new recreational uses for 8 segments and the disapproval of recreational use downgrades for 4 segments. The May 2012 and November 2011 actions, together, complete EPA's review of Illinois' September 2011 submission.

December 2011: Settlement to Reduce Pollution from Sewage Overflows and Protect Public Health

The proposed consent decree requires the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to complete construction of two reservoirs providing much more "gray" infrastructure storage capacity in the next 6 years than the current storage capacity provided by the tunnels alone. (Click to enlarge.)

Chicago's Green Alleys are examples of green infrastructure. They use "permeable pavement" to soak in rain water and reduce sewer overflows. A 1,000 square foot green alley can keep more than 10,000 gallons of water out of the sewer system during any one storm. (Click to enlarge.)

EPA, the Department of Justice, and the State of Illinois announced a Clean Water Act settlement with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to resolve claims that untreated sewer discharges were released into Chicago-area waterways during flood and wet weather events.

November 2011: Upgraded Water Quality Standards for Portions of the CAWS

Kayakers enjoy paddling in the Chicago River. (Photo courtesy of TheTwoBoxers)

Kayakers enjoy paddling in the Chicago River. (Photo courtesy of TheTwoBoxers)

EPA approved the State of Illinois' new and revised water quality standards for five segments of the Chicago and Calumet Rivers. As a result of EPA's action, after almost a decade of debate, Illinois adopted water quality standards to protect primary contact recreational uses of the waterway - such as kayaking, canoeing, boating and jet and water skiing.

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