Metropolitan Planning Council and Openlands believe sustaining a viable supply of high-quality water is a critical public policy and planning goal for the future health and viability of Illinois.  To be effective and inclusive, water planning must be done by all levels of government.  According to their 2006 joint report, Troubled Waters: Meeting Future Water Needs in Illinois, “Water quantity planning on a regional scale is needed because aquifers and watersheds are regional in nature, cutting across political boundaries.”  However, as of the report’s release, there were neither regional bodies mandated with water planning, nor a statewide framework for regional water supply planning. 

Troubled Waters offered many recommendations for state and local governments, stressing the need for better scientific understanding of the state’s ground and surface waters, as well as the creation of a statewide framework for regional water supply planning.  Additionally, the report called for the “formation of priority water quantity planning areas where existing data suggests future water shortages.”

Since the release of Troubled Waters, Illinois has made a great leap forward to address the state’s water future.  Executive Order 2006-01 required the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, working through its Office of Water Resources, to create a statewide framework for regional water supply planning. The Order calls on IDNR, in conjunction with its scientific Surveys, to:

• Develop a comprehensive program for state and regional water supply planning and implementation
• Conduct public review of a strategic plan for a water supply planning and management program
• Establish a scientific basis and an administrative framework for the implementation of state and regional water supply planning and management
• Encourage creation of locally-based regional water supply planning committees
• By December 31, 2006 have regional water supply plans in progress in 2 priority planning areas

Two regional water supply planning initiatives have been launched in northeastern and central Illinois, guided, respectively by Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group and the East Central Illinois Water Supply Planning Committee (in cooperation with the Mahomet Aquifer Consortium). The framework being developed by the state is expected to delineate the appropriate roles and responsibilities of governments, utilities, and water users in creating effective water resource planning. 

However, while the pilot regional planning initiatives are moving closer to establishing plans, no statewide framework has emerged to delineate the proper roles and responsibilities of state, regional, or local governments, and Illinois’ data on water usage is woefully incomplete, as reporting remains voluntary.  “Beyond Showerheads and Sprinklers” aims to push the process forward by infusing it with new ideas and a clear path of action.  It is a unique opportunity for local and national experts and decision-makers to help determine the future of water management and design a model for efficient, equitable, effective water governance.  Expert speakers will provide intriguing perspectives that engage conference participants in the shared task of identifying workable water governance strategies for Illinois. These contributions will inform a white paper outlining possible courses of action as Illinois moves toward a statewide framework for regional water supply planning.

The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University was created by former U.S. Senator Paul Simon to work directly with elected officials and others to tackle some of the most difficult challenges in the public policy arena. In view of this commitment, the Institute has joined Openlands and Metropolitan Planning Council in supporting the development of a statewide water supply planning and management framework.

The Metropolitan Planning Council, Openlands, and Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, with support from the Joyce Foundation and Lumpkin Family Foundation, are eager to see Illinois move forward with a statewide framework for regional water supply planning.  The conference conveners are grateful to sponsors CDM, Illinois American Water, and Sloan Valve, and supporting sponsor Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd., for their support.

Conference Conveners

Openlands

25 East Washington Street

Suite 1650

Chicago, Illinois 60602

Phone: 312.427.4526

Fax: 312.427.6251

Web site: www.openlands.org

Metropolitan Planning Council

25 East Washington Street

Suite 1600

Chicago, Ilinois 60602

Phone: 312.922.5616

Fax: 312.922.5619

Web site: www.metroplanning.org

Paul Simon Public Policy Institute

Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Mail Code 4429

Carbondale, Illinois 62901

Web site: www.siu.edu/~ppi