Understanding future water demand is key to managing these resources sustainably. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG), and University of Illinois Extension recently updated the region’s water demand forecast to reflect new population and employment projections. The forecast shows that water use is expected to continue declining, due to steady advances in water conservation and efficiency that are outpacing population and employment growth. However, in some areas, forecasted water demand will exceed available groundwater supplies.

This publication is available through the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s website at: https://cmap.illinois.gov/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/Regional-Water-Demand-Forecast-for-Northeastern-Illinois-2020-2050.pdf

Lawn to Lake provides information on how to protect water quality through natural lawn care. This rack card explains the benefits of using phosphorus-free (P-free) fertilizer and natural lawn care products.

To assist green infrastructure project managers with understanding long-term maintenance issues, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant conducted a needs assessment. This assessment grew out of a recognition that declining infrastructure performance and sufficiency is a fundamental challenge to stormwater management over time.

This report represents an important first step in quantifying the extent of the water affordability problem in northeastern Illinois, and exploring strategies for tackling this growing challenge.

Ecosystem Services Valuation in the Indiana Coastal Zone introduces this concept to coastal zone managers, policymakers, and valuation practitioners. Ecosystem services valuation allows decision makers to better address resource management challenges and communicate how actions can negatively or positively affect the public.

Concern over water service affordability has grown in recent years as water bills escalate at a faster pace than the overall cost-of-living.While the cost of water has been rising over the past decade, the ability of consumers to pay for water service has declined. This review examines the definition and measurement of water affordability through a chronological search and presentation of the regulatory and research literature. Results will be used to determine a method for measuring water affordability for the northeastern Illinois region.