Near North Side
Near North Side, IL water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Near North Side, IL is a small but growing city, with a population near 85,711 and the 13th-largest community in Illinois. Like much of Illinois, Near North Side draws its water primarily from Lake Michigan, Mississippi River, and deep aquifers.
Near North Side's water outlook is shaped most by aging infrastructure — the issue that dominates planning across Illinois. Lake Michigan provides Chicago abundant supply, but suburban communities pumping deep aquifers face declining levels.
Near North Side sits in a state that reuses roughly 5% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences abnormally dry to moderate drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Illinois state water profile and the related issues below.
At a glance
- Population ~85,711 (13th-largest in Illinois)
- Primary sources: Lake Michigan, Mississippi River, and deep aquifers
- Drought: abnormally dry to moderate conditions
- State reuse rate: ~5% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Illinois in severe+ drought (Moderate (D1) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Near North Side?
Near North Side is served by community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Statewide, 23.5% of Illinois's systems have a recent health-based violation. Check your provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report for local results.
Where does Near North Side get its water?
Near North Side draws from the same regional sources that serve Illinois: Lake Michigan, Mississippi River, deep aquifers.
Related water issues
Aging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExploreGroundwater Depletion
Aquifers from the Central Valley to the Ogallala are being pumped faster than they recharge, causing land subsidence and threatening long-term supply.
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