The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) will fund green infrastructure projects in Cook County, Ill. According to a MWRD new release, the district is accepting applications from municipal, township and county agencies within Cook County until Aug. 9, 2019.
Green infrastructure captures water, then it infiltrates the ground before it enters the conveyance system. According to MWRD, this process helps to reduce the amount of water flowing through pipes that tend to be overwhelmed by rain events.
"After the wettest May in Chicago history, now is an ideal time to collaborate on green infrastructure projects that work to enhance community spaces and mitigate flooding," said MWRD President Kari K. Steele in an MWRD press release. "We want communities to share their ideas about how green infrastructure can help mitigate flooding on a local level. These green infrastructure projects allow us to work together with communities to implement sustainable storm water management options that benefit the environment."
MWRD is the regional storm water authority for Cook County and holds annual calls for green infrastructure projects throughout its service area. Recent projects chosen for funding include permeable parking lots, rain gardens, bioswales and green alleys, according to MWRD.
"We are experiencing record spring rain totals for the second consecutive year and have to be proactive in managing our stormwater," said MWRD Vice President Barbara McGowan. "Now is the time to hear from our community partners on how we can best leverage our resources to address flooding through green infrastructure. We look forward to strengthening these partnerships."
