About NWPA

The Northwest Water Planning Alliance (NWPA) is working to ensure that dependable supplies of water are available for generations to come.

Group Formation and History

The Northwest Water Planning Alliance was initiated in August 2010 as an exploration of self-organization and collaborative planning and management by groundwater-dependent communities in Northeastern Illinois. This effort was spearheaded by Aurora’s Mayor Tom Weisner and his commitment to maintaining high quality drinking water supplies into the future. Many of the early NWPA organizers had participated in the development of the Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan, organized by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

Over the past 10 years, the NWPA has shed light on critical water issues facing groundwater and river dependent communities. The NWPA provides a forum for elected officials, utility and resource managers, and others to learn the latest scientific research concerning the health of our water supplies. Through these conversations, NWPA members have developed tailored solutions and best practices.

​From the initial work to reduce outdoor water use to the latest efforts to minimize the unnecessary use of road salts, the NWPA harnesses member and partner expertise to design solutions that work in the Chicago region. In addition, the NWPA utilizes the work of partners – such as Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Illinois State Water Survey, Metropolitan Planning Council, and U.S. Geological Survey – to connect members with critical information and resources.

​The geography of the NWPA is roughly coincident with, but not limited to, the Fox River Basin in Illinois.

Strategic Plan

The NWPA has adopted a new strategic plan for the next 5 years. The 2020-2024 Strategic Plan builds on the successes of the past and identifies new opportunities to collaboratively plan to ensure a sustainable water supply.

The plan sets 4 goals for the organization:

1. Develop and promote sustainable water policies and practices
2. Inform decisionmakers and the public on NWPA issues and best practices
3. Improve the scientific understanding of NWPA water supplies
4. Build organizational capacity to achieve mission 

The organization's prior strategic plan was developed in 2014.

Contact Us

Contact information for the NWPA can be found here.

NWPA Region and Communities

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The NWPA shares updates, new opportunities, and best practices through a monthly newsletter to member communities and subscribers.
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Fact Sheet

Looking for more information about the NWPA or want to easily share it? Check out our one-page fact sheet.

Getting Involved

The NWPA has an Executive Committee and a Technical Advisory Committee that meet regularly. Do you help manage drinking water in an NWPA community? If so, join the monthly Technical Advisory Committee meetings to learn more and get involved.
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​Learn more about NWPA committees.