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Lake Michigan is clearly great in size, so it may be hard to imagine why the region is concerned about having enough water to support its people and industry. But there are federal limits on how much water Illinois can take from the lake, and underground aquifers are already being pumped dry. As a result, the region's water supply is much more limited than it appears. What's more, demand for water is on the rise as the Chicago area continues to grow. Experts anticipate that northeast Illinois will need as much as 64 percent more water by 2050 for its 12 million residents. This thirst will be hard to quench without careful planning and conservation.

To make sure the region is never left high and dry, officials have started ramping up water conservation efforts. At the top of the list is the price of water. Water bills often don't cover all the costs of pumping, cleaning, and delivering water to homes and businesses. Low prices leave cities without money to repair aging pipes, many more than 100 years old. Water economists have recommended that communities charge residents and businesses what it really costs to bring them water. City officials and planners have also called on Chicago residents to use less water on their lawns. Illinois lawns need only an inch of water a week, or about two hours of sprinkling. Any more than that can't be absorbed and instead runs off into nearby lakes and rivers, carrying pollutants with it.