The System Built To Prevent Massive Floods In Chicago Near Capacity After 'Stunning' Rainfall

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Citywide
The System Built To Prevent Massive Floods In Chicago Near Capacity After ‘Stunning’ Rainfall

For the opening weeks of summer, Chicago — especially the South Side — has been inundated with storms and rain. The massive Deep Tunnel system that captures and cleans stormwater is almost at capacity.

by Jon Hansen and Molly DeVore
4 hours ago


Flooding hit the Beverly neighborhood hard on July 4, 2026. Credit: Crystal Paul/Block Club Chicago

CHICAGO — A soggy start to summer with near-record rainfall has left Chicago’s Deep Tunnel stormwater retention system almost full.

The Deep Tunnel, which was constructed over the course of more than five decades, is a system of underground tunnels and reservoirs that captures and stores stormwater and sewage that could otherwise overflow into waterways.

After an especially rainy first five weeks of meteorological summer, the Deep Tunnel is nearly full.


Flooding in Beverly. Credit: Provided

The Thornton Reservoir, which was completed in 2015 and is the largest combined sewer reservoir in the world, was 94 percent full as of Monday morning, according to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. With 7.4 billion gallons of water, this is the fullest the reservoir has ever been. The reservoirs’ previous record was set in 2019, when it was 54.5 percent full.

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[mucifer]

1. Yeah we are screwed