Chicago Area Waterways Chloride Workgroup

The Chicago Area Waterways Chloride Workgroup (CAWCW) is a collaborative initiative focused on addressing chloride pollution in the Chicago Area Waterways. The organization was formed in 2021 and operates across approximately 515 square miles of the region, from just north of the North Shore Channel down to the southern parts of the area.

Purpose and Activities

CAWCW's primary goal is to reduce chloride loadings into local waterways, primarily caused by road salt used for winter deicing. The group works closely with stakeholders, including the Lower Des Plaines Watershed Group (LDWG), to implement strategies for chloride reduction. This involves coordinating efforts among various entities to ensure compliance with the Time-Limited Water Quality Standard for Chloride (TLWQS), a watershed-based approach to manage chloride levels in waterways.

CAWCW partners with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) to educate winter road maintenance staff through deicing workshops. These educational efforts focus on best management practices, such as calibrating salt spreading equipment, using salt brines for anti-icing, and implementing pre-wetting applications for rock salt. The workgroup also promotes the judicious use of salt to minimize environmental impacts while maintaining safety during winter conditions.

Collaborations and Impact

CAWCW collaborates with other organizations, such as the Salt Smart Collaborative, to enhance public awareness about the environmental implications of excessive salt use. This collaborative approach allows for sharing resources, knowledge, and expertise among stakeholders, leading to more effective chloride reduction strategies.

The formation of CAWCW marks a significant step towards addressing chloride pollution at a watershed scale, aligning with broader environmental protection efforts in the region. By pooling collective efforts, the group aims to protect local water quality and eventually meet the general use water quality standard for the Chicago Area Waterways.

Legal and Regulatory Context

The workgroup's activities are aligned with regulatory developments such as the Illinois Pollution Control Board's issuance of the Time-Limited Water Quality Standard for Chloride. This framework allows for a phased approach to reducing chloride levels, with periodic evaluations and extensions of compliance deadlines to ensure progressive improvement in water quality.

Overall, the Chicago Area Waterways Chloride Workgroup plays a pivotal role in coordinating chloride management efforts across the region, promoting environmental stewardship, and enhancing water quality through collaborative strategies.