Abby Spengler

For more than a century, the Chicago River has been heavily polluted and non-swimmable. After years of public advocacy and infrastructure projects, the urban waterway is being reclaimed for wildlife and for people. On September 21st, 2025, Chicago hosted its first open-water swim in the Main Stem of the Chicago River in nearly 100 years. The event brought together around 300 swimmers from 13 nations. Participants included seasoned athletes, recreational swimmers, and environmental advocates,...

The city of Chicago has more lead service lines than any other U.S. city. Estimates show around 400,000 lines either confirmed or suspected. The City of Chicago is working diligently to replace these service lines over the next few decades. The Problem with Lead Lines Water service lines are the smaller water pipes that connect the larger water mains in the street to the buildings and homes. Water service lines that are made out of lead can corrode over time and cause lead to enter drinking...

In mid‑2025, Chicago, partnering with the Grand Prairie Water Commission and nearby suburbs, broke ground on a transformative water infrastructure project: a 60‑mile water transmission line system to connect more communities to Lake Michigan’s water. The project is known as the Alternative Water Source Program, and it includes the construction of over 60 miles of new pipeline, three new pump stations, storage facilities and delivery infrastructure. Upon its completion in 2030, it is expected...