Student presentations

Question 1

Where was the first comprehensive stormwater and

wastewater system in the country.

Answer 1

In Chicago, when the city was raised to make room for the sewers.

Question 2

What type of plan does TARP utilize?

Answer 2

utilizes the “Underflow Plan” - provides greater storage and pumping capacity

Question 3

What are the 2 phases of the deep tunnel project?

Answer 3

○ Phase I - Pollution control, completed in 2006 and in operation
■ Four Tunnels: Mainstream, Des Plaines, Calumet, and Upper Des
Plaines
■ Holds 2.3 billion gallons of volume of combined sewage overflows
○ Phase II - construction of reservoirs, to be complete by 2029
■ Three reservoirs: Gloria Alitto Majewski, McCook, and Thornton
Reservoirs
■ Majewski completed in 1998 - 350 million gallons
■ Thornton completed Sep. 1st, 2015 - 7.9 billion gallons
■ McCook under construction; complete 2029

Question 4

How many reservoirs will there be for the deep tunnel project?

Answer 4

3

Question 5

3 main aquifer systems in the chicago area

Answer 5

• Sand and gravel deposits from glacial drift
• Shallow dolomite aquifers of Silurian age
• Deep sandstone and dolomite aquifers of Cambrian and Ordovician age

Question 6

Where are the deep paleozoic aquifers?

Answer 6

**Paleozoic aquifers in the Chicago region
occur at depths beginning around 500 ft.
and are confined
**Extends through Illinois, Missouri, Iowa,
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and
Indiana

Question 7

When did the deep aquifers form?

Answer 7

● Paleozoic-542 to 251 Ma

● Cambrian/Ordovician-542 to 445 Ma

Question 8

What is the deep aquifer system made of?

Answer 8

Shale-Aquitard or Seal Rock
Sandstones and Dolomites- Aquifer or Reservoir Rock
Artesian Pressure-Confined aquifer under positive pressure from seal rocks
above and below

Question 9

Where does water in the deep aquifer come from and go?

Answer 9

Recharge:
1. Overlying glacial deposits 47 miles west of Chicago
2. Infiltration through Shale confining layer
Discharge:
1. Human use

Question 10

What is a glacial aquifer?

Answer 10

An aquifer created by glacial action

Question 11

Features left by glaciation

Answer 11

1. Till
2. Outwash
3. Lacustrine Deposits
4. Sand dunes
5. Loess
6. Erratics
7. Moraines

Question 12

Major changes to recharge potential caused by human actions

Answer 12

1. Construction of navigable waterways
2. Diversion of Lake Michigan water
3. Construction of wastewater treatment plants
4. Agricultural activities

Question 13

Flow conditions into bubbly creek

Answer 13

very little drainage
stagnant water during dry season
overflow from combined sewers (can get back into other parts of the system)

Question 14

Sediment quality of bubbly creek

Answer 14

• Heavily influenced by meat processing
• average thickness about 13 feet
• biochemical reactions can carry clumps of sediment to the surface
• not considered hazardous waste

Question 15

What makes it difficult for plants and wildlife to inhabit bubbly creek?

Answer 15

Stagnant conditions, lack of base flow, and continued sewer overflow make it difficult for plants and wildlife to inhabit the creek