The city of Chicago has introduced a new stormwater storage system to alleviate flooding on the West Side. The system, called Wing Storage, can hold around 1.7 million gallons of stormwater and protect nearly 2,900 homes.
Project Details
The pilot project is a joint effort between the city’s Department of Water Management and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. It is expected to finish construction this fall and will provide more than two Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of holding capacity.
The storage system consists of holding tanks that sit below neighborhood streets. During times of intense rain, the storage chamber will hold water and gradually release excess stormwater into the sewers, alleviating stress on the system.
The first tank is located on Maypole Avenue between Cicero and Lavergne avenues, and the second tank is being constructed on LeMoyne Street between Luna and Lorel avenues.
Community Impact
The system is designed to protect nearly 3,000 homes and businesses across the 28th, 29th, and 37th wards. The focus on the West Side comes from community feedback to address ‘flooding hotspots’ following the devastating flooding of summer 2023.
Thousands of West Siders saw their homes flooded during record-breaking storms in July 2023. The new pilot project hopes to alleviate stress on the reservoir system by providing additional holding capacity.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
