Chicago-area residents asked to delay showers, use less water ahead of thunderstorms

Chicago-area residents have been asked to reduce water use ahead of forecasted heavy rains, including delaying showers and doing laundry.

According to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, an “Overflow Action Day” was in effect for Wednesday and Thursday as multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorm are expected to hit the area.

According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, heavy rain could occur at times, and the entire area is at an “enhanced” risk of severe weather on Thursday, with gusty winds, large hail and tornadoes all possible with any storms that develop.

According to the Overflow Action Alert, MWRD officials are asking residents to take steps to reduce their water usage in coming days in an effort to limit the amount of water that goes into sewer systems.

Those steps include reducing the amount of time residents spend in the shower, but also apply to other things as well, including running dishwashers less frequently, reducing the number of times toilets are flushed, and delaying doing laundry until the rain has moved out of the area.

If too much water enters those systems, it can lead to flooding, including into the basements of residences and businesses.

Particularly severe flooding can result in the release of untreated or partially treated wastewater into the Chicago River or Lake Michigan, something the agency actively seeks to avoid.

According to the alert, there are a number of other steps residents can also take to reduce the amount of water entering sewage systems. Those include the installation of rain gardens or rain barrels on properties. Landscaping with native plants or planting more trees will also help to absorb more water.

Even replacing paved surfaces with water-absorbing materials can also help, according to the MWRD website.