Alderman Schulter Expresses Support For Water Quality Improvements
Alderman Gene Schulter submitted a resolution during the week’s City Council meeting expressing the Council’s strong support for the Illinois EPA’s recent proposal for new water quality standards for both the Chicago and Calumet River Systems. Under the proposal, the new water quality standards would include killing bacteria from sewer treatment effluent, temperature and dissolved oxygen standards for fish, and other chemical improvements.
Currently, sewer effluent that pours into the Chicago River every day is untreated for bacteria from human sewage. This process presents a real public health threat. The Illinois EPA has recommended disinfection. These recommendations have been endorsed by Friends of the Chicago River.
In the resolution, Alderman Schulter highlights the essential environmental and economic benefits provided by a healthy river system. The Chicago River provides continuous relief from climate change in the City of Chicago through reducing urban heat island effect, providing an ecosystem for plant life that offsets greenhouse gas emissions, and by infiltrating clean rain water. The Chicago River also acts as a catalyst for urban renewal through an emerging waterfront economy brining new businesses, more jobs, and an increased tax base to the City.
“I am pleased to do my part in fighting to keep our river systems healthy,” stated Alderman Schulter. “The 47th Ward depends on the Chicago River to improve quality of life for so many residents. It is important that the City Council send a clear message to Springfield that investing in keeping our rivers clean and healthy is a priority. I believe that disinfection is the right step forward for improving our rivers.”