Title
Joint resolution endorsing the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan.
Staff Summary
• A Governor’s Executive Order in late 2006 created the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group (RWSPG) to study the future water needs of the 11-county region around Chicago and to develop a plan to guide how we can provide an adequate supply for all users.
• A 35-member task force was created that met almost monthly to study water supplies and demands throughout the region. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning facilitated the three year process leading to a Water Plan that was adopted in January, 2010.
• Lake County was an active part of the process, including Board Member Bonnie Carter, who was elected Chairman of the Task Force the last two years of the process.
• The Water Plan does not attempt to deal with governance structures, but identified needs for more geological research to fill the voids in groundwater knowledge and project water needs 40 years from now when the region’s population is projected to increase by 38%. It also identifies 8 water conservation measures that could significantly reduce water demand, if adopted by local jurisdictions.
• The committee is asked to support the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan by recommending that the County Board endorse the Water Plan and encourage further effort in this area both locally and regionally.
Body
WHEREAS, the County of Lake has been concerned about the future of adequate water supplies within the County and region; and
WHEREAS, a Governor’s Executive Order created the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group to study the current and future demands and supplies of water and develop a plan for how we can provide adequate supplies of water for all users; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Group met for three years studying the many related water topics leading to the adoption of the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply / Demand Plan in January 2010; and
WHEREAS, Lake County was an active member of the Planning Group that studied the regional water supplies and demand, including Member Bonnie Carter who was elected Chairman of the Planning Group the last two years of the process; and
WHEREAS, the Water Plan does not attempt to deal with the governance structures, but identifies needs for more geological research to fill the voids in groundwater knowledge and projects the water needs for 40 years from now when the region’s population is projected to increase by 38% and does encourage the adoption of 8 water conservation strategies to reduce water demand; and
WHEREAS, the Planning, Building, and Zoning Committee and the Public Works and Transportation Committee jointly support the Water Plan and encourage its endorsement.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan as adopted by the Regional Water Supply Planning Group is hereby received and endorsed as a guide for future water resource planning in Lake County and the region.
DATED at Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois on this 13th day of April A.D. 2010