>>> AFTER MONTHS OF DROUGHT , THE CHICAGO AREA HAS HAD A LOT OF RAIN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS , AS MUCH AS EIGHT INCHES FELL IN CERTAIN PARTS OVER THE WEEKEND WITH MAJOR FLOODING.

WE SAW -- TO TELL US HOW THE STORM WATER IS MANAGED AND ABOUT HOW TO LET IT FLOW INTO LAKE MICHIGAN IS KEVIN FITZPATRICK, WITH THE METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT OF GREATER CHICAGO.

TELL OUR VIEWERS WHERE THE BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF RAINWATER AND STORMWATER WILL GO AFTER A STORM LIKE THIS?

>> EVENTUALLY, IT IS IN OUR DEEP TUNNEL SYSTEM, OR TREATED IN OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

WE DO PUMP IT BACK BEFORE IT GOES OUT TO THE WATERWAYS.

IT GOES SOUTH TOWARDS THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

HOW MUCH WATER , WE COMPLETELY FILLED UP THE RESERVOIRS.

WE COMPLETELY FILLED THE TUNNELS, 2.4 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER.

WE ARE RUNNING AT FULL CAPACITY AND ONE OF THE LARGEST TREATMENT FACILITIES IN THE WORLD.

WE ARE STILL CATCHING UP.

>> YOU ARE SITTING IN YOUR CAR ON YOUR WAY TO A COMMUNITY MEETING IN AUSTIN.

THE WEST SIDE , CICERO , HAS THE WORST FLOODING.

WHY WAS IT SO BAD THERE?

HOW HAVE CONDITIONS IMPROVED?

>> WE HAVE SEEN THIS LATELY IN THESE WEATHER PATTERNS.

IT IS A MICROBURST WHERE THE RAINSTORM SAT IN THIS AREA.

IN GENERAL , CHICAGO GOT 54 INCHES.

CICERO , THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO, GOT A LOT OF RAIN OVER 12 HOURS.

COMBINED WITH RAIN BEFORE AND AFTER , IT IS UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNTS AND SOMETHING DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH .

>> 8.9 INCHES OVER 12 HOURS.

THE DECISION TO REVERSE THE FLOW OF THE RIVER OUT INTO LAKE MICHIGAN, A DIFFICULT DECISION .

REMIND US WHAT GOES INTO THAT.

>> WE TRY TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF REVERSAL OF THE RIVER BACK INTO THE LAKE.

BECAUSE IT DOES BRING POLLUTED WATER INTO LAKE , A DRINKING WATER SOURCE .

WE TRY TO AVOID IT AT ALL COST.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT , IF WE CONTINUE -- WE HAVE THESE STORMS THAT BRING WATER, THEY WILL FILL OUR WATERWAYS AND COST TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF FLOODING.

MORE THAN WHAT WE SEE ALREADY.

WHEN THE RIVER IS ABOVE THE LAKE LEVEL, WE CAN OPEN UP THE LOCKS AND SEND IT TO THE LAKE SO IN THE CITY IT DOES NOT RISE FURTHER.

SOME PEOPLE ASK, CAN WE DO IT SOONER AND AVOID FLOODING?

WE CANNOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE RIVER IS ABOVE THE LAKE TO ALLOW IT TO FLOW IN THAT DIRECTION.

IF WE DO IT TOO SOON, THE LAKEWOOD COME INTO THE RIVER AND WE WOULD EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM.

>> HOW DANGEROUS DOES IT MAKE THE WATER AND FOR HOW LONG?

>> IT BRINGS HUMAN WASTE AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN THE RIVER.

THE RIVER IS A LOT CLEANER THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

WHEN WE HAVE STORMS , THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THE SUBURBS HAVE COMBINED SEWERS.

IT IS NOT ONLY STORMWATER, BUT SEWAGE.

IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO SWIM IN.

THAT IS WHY THE CITY GIVES BEACH ADVISORIES.

IT USUALLY TAKES A COUPLE OF DAYS FOR THAT TO DIE OFF.

IT DOES NOT LIKE TO BE IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

EVENTUALLY, IT DIES OFF AND WILL BE SAFE AGAIN.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE DEEP TUNNELS ON THE RESERVOIRS.

THEY ARE HUGE .

THEY WERE PRETTY MUCH FULL.

IS THE SYSTEM BUILT TO RECEIVE MORE AND IF NOT , WHAT HAPPENS ?

>> CURRENTLY, THE SYSTEM , THE RESERVOIR SYSTEM FILLS PROBABLY ONCE OR TWICE PER YEAR.

IT IS BIG, 3.5 BILLION GALLONS.

WE WILL ADD 6.5 BILLION GALLONS .

EVENTUALLY , WE WILL HAVE MORE STORAGE.

EVEN WHEN WE DO HAVE MORE STORAGE, THESE SEWERS THAT WERE BUILT IN CHICAGO AND THE SUBURBS ARE 100 YEARS OLD OR SO AND NOT MADE FOR THE STORMS WE SEE TODAY.

THE ONE WE SAW IN CICERO WAS A 100 AND 500 YEAR STORM.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> 100 YEAR STORM HAS A 1% CHANCE OF OCCURRING AND SHOULD ONLY HAPPEN ONCE IN 100 YEARS IN A PARTICULAR LOCATION.

A 500 YEAR STORM SHOULD ONLY HAPPEN ONCE IN 500 YEARS.

>> THAT IS AMAZING.

>> WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, WE ARE GETTING THESE STORMS MORE FREQUENTLY.

>> WE HAVE TO WRAP BUT THIS MAY BECOME A MORE COMMON