Flooding and Sewage Coalition:
Community-Led Solutions and Policy Advocacy
Who are we?
We’re a cross-regional coalition working to address flooding and sewage issues on the South and West Sides of Chicago, the South Suburbs, and Northwest Indiana.
What’s the problem?
Frequent flooding disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, leading to property damage, public health risks, and economic instability. With new commitments from Chicago and Cook County to address historical disinvestment, we have a unique opportunity to address persistent community flooding and sewage backups in communities with failing water infrastructure.
What’s the opportunity?
Your voice, as a community member, is critical to:
- Help identify and prioritize key flooding and sanitation challenges in your communities.
- Share real‑world, on‑the‑ground insights that help us make sense of the data and shape our policy work.
- Offer practical guidance to city and county staff as they plan and build stormwater and sewer projects.
Upcoming public comment and policy opportunities include:
Timetable
2025
- Our Community Advisory Committee is established
- Early engagement with city staff and agencies
- Chicago releases its draft Green Stormwater Infrastructure Strategy; public comment period
- Co-Learning materials are developed
- Create a framework that drives stormwater and wastewater investments and addresses historic inequities
- Collaboration with our Community Advisory Committee to co-create the Flooding and Sewage Vulnerability Tool and framework
- Co-develop and review the engagement strategy
- Continue policy advocacy
2026
- Co-Learning Groups are established and begin meeting
- Flooding and Sewage Vulnerability Tool completed and shared with agencies
- Collaboration with Community Advisory Committee continues
- Continue policy advocacy and further establish agency engagement
How can you or your organization contribute?
- Sign up to learn more as new information is developed.
- Share how flooding and sewage disparities are impacting you!
- Stay tuned for more information about contributing to the development of the Flooding and Sewage Vulnerability Tool.
Contact: Bre’Shaun Reddick, Project Manager, breddick@greatlakes.org
Download an overview of this project.
Current Coalition partners:
 |  |  | Equitable Resilience & Sustainability |
| Little Village Environmental Justice Organization | NeighborSpace | Southeast Environmental Task Force |