The Lake County Board endorsed a landmark water supply/demand plan meant to ensure the availability of clean water for the future. The "Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Water Supply/Demand Plan" is based on the latest water demand and supply research for 11 counties in Northeastern Illinois. The findings show that rapid population growth could lead to water shortages in coming years without improved conservation and resource management. The plan outlines guidelines for businesses and residents to reduce consumption and waste, along with recommendations to improve how public and private water suppliers manage water resources.  

County Board Chairman Suzi Schmidt said, "The Lake County Board's endorsement of the plan is a formal recognition of the County's commitment to this effort both locally and regionally. The County Board has identified water resources as a key strategy in its Strategic Plan and we continue to work with our partners to save water for our future."

The Regional Water Supply Planning Group (RWSPG) developed the plan with funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).  Lake County, along with representatives from other counties, municipalities, and stakeholder groups including water suppliers, agriculture, industry, power, public water suppliers, conservation, environment, academia, and real estate have been working with Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) on the development of the plan since 2007. Lake County Board Member Bonnie Thomson Carter served as Chairman of the RWSPG  the last two years.

"This report confirms that we can't take water for granted. The region's population is projected to increase by 38% over the next 40 years. Unless we all change how we use our water and adopt conservation practices into our daily lives, demand could increase as much as 64 percent, creating potentially serious shortages," Lake County Board member Bonnie Thomson Carter said. "Governments, businesses and residents must work together to implement this new water plan. This is critical to our quality of life and economic vitality."

The RWSPG plan's primary strategy is to improve how water demand is managed, by emphasizing conservation, pricing, and the reuse of graywater and wastewater  (graywater results from residential activities such as dish washing, laundry, and bathing).  It advocates a number of local conservation measures for municipalities, businesses, and households, including:    

·             Replacing old toilets and washing machines with new, high-efficiency ones

·             Prohibiting practices that waste water

·            Metering water use where it is not metered now

·            Auditing water systems to detect leaks and other inefficiencies

·            Retrofitting residential plumbing

·            Establishing real cost water-rate structures

Among other key recommendations is for enhanced water conservation awareness activities.

The Lake County Integrated Water Resource Planning Group developed the "State of Lake County's Water Supply" report in 2008 and continues to focus on water resource planning efforts. To learn more about what you can do to save water, visit the County's website at: www.lakecountyil.gov/savewater. Here you can watch the LCTV Special Series:" Save Water for our Future." To read the CMAP plan, visit www.cmap.illinois.gov/waterplan.