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Adopted this past spring, the Northwest Water Planning Alliance (NWPA) Water Supply Sustainability Plan (WSSP) outlines strategies to address water supply challenges. One strategy emphasized in the WSSP is water loss control, which can be used to extend water supplies, lower costs, and improve system reliability. The plan urges communities to strengthen water loss control through voluntary measures such as regular water audits, loss prevention programs, and leak detection.
Why It Matters According to Bluefield Research, an estimated one in five gallons of treated water is lost before reaching water customers. Within the Northwest Water Planning Alliance (NWPA) region, this equates to roughly 26 million gallons per day. These losses represent not only wasted water but also reduced utility revenue. Addressing water loss is a foundational practice that improves system performance and helps utilities make the most of existing supplies before investing in costly new water supply sources. This is particularly critical as many communities in the NWPA region face rising demand and growing stress on groundwater aquifers. Reducing water loss will help close the region’s supply–demand gap and support long-term groundwater sustainability. Illinois, including the NWPA region, is getting warmer and wetter. Warmer air holds more water, causing rain to arrive in short, intense bursts. Illinois State Climatologist Dr. Trent Ford, who presented at the July 22nd NWPA Technical Advisory Committee meeting, cautioned that these changes create new water management challenges.
The NWPA is proud to announce that the NWPA Water Supply Sustainability Plan was adopted in May! Developed in partnership with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, the plan aims to help communities better understand their water conditions and make informed decisions about their water supply in response to growing challenges — including groundwater overreliance, declining water quality, and limited access to alternative sources, such as Lake Michigan.
Significant portions of the Chicago region – especially those dependent upon groundwater sources -- are encountering water supply and quality issues. The region’s comprehensive plan, ON TO 2050, anticipates these issues will grow unless additional steps are taken to coordinate and conserve the region’s shared water supply resources. The recently updated regional water demand forecast revealed that while overall water use is stable, projected demand will exceed available groundwater supplies in some areas. Yet with additional conservation and efficiency measures, the region can maintain its long-term drinking water supplies.
The Metropolitan Planning Council, along with partners the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), the Illinois Section of the American Water Works Association and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, have created a peer-to-peer learning exchange and local technical assistance program — called the Drinking Water 1-2-3 Academy — to further assist communities in implementing best practices featured in MPC’s Drinking Water 1-2-3 guide.
Part one of this program is a series of four half-day events across the region that feature education about key best practices that target important local issues for decision makers and the communities they serve. The audience for these events is elected officials, community leaders and top municipal staff, and speakers will include community leaders and water experts with an emphasis on peer-to-peer learning and example case studies from the region. |
ABOUTThe latest updates page features posts about issues affecting NWPA member communities and best practices, drawing on interviews and conversations with experts. Archives
October 2025
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