New Illinois Law Aims to Help Prevent Flooding by ‘Going Green’

August 15, 2013

Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation to help Illinois communities prevent flooding by “going green.”

Quinn signed the bill in the Chicago suburb of Orland Park, one of the communities hit hard by flooding this spring.

State law requires municipalities to ensure storm water and other run-off is handled properly. To do that, many communities have relied on storm water management systems that are outdated.

The new legislation gives municipalities other options that increase the natural absorption of storm water. They include green roofs, rain gardens and porous pavement.

The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Tom Cullerton, a Democrat from Villa Park, and state Rep. Mike Fortner, a Republican from West Chicago.

Cullerton says municipalities now “have the green light to go green.”

Topics Flood Illinois

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Latest Comments

  • August 16, 2013 at 6:02 pm
    Native Suburbia says:
    Encouraging native plants to replace part or all of lawns would be a step in the right direction. Turf grass roots are too short to absorb any water. Native plants have long... read more
  • August 16, 2013 at 2:10 pm
    Jon says:
    It was tongue-in-cheek. Sheesh... Though it's not about "going green." It's about finding solutions to help with the ridiculous flooding we've had the last few years. FEMA has... read more
  • August 16, 2013 at 9:50 am
    Just an Underwriter says:
    Downstate as in Springfield where both of these 2 could be working on bigger issues than how towns can go green.

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