Chicago Drought Prompts Water Restrictions in Multiple Suburbs

Drought in Chicago has forced water restrictions to some of its suburbs, it was reported earlier this week. Illinois, since last week, has been declared to be experiencing its worst drought in a decade. Amid the Chicago drought, hot temperatures, humid air, and dry conditions have been reported across the region. With this, water reservoirs are affected by the abnormal weather phenomenon.

The restrictions will take effect until further notice, forcing residents across the Chicago area to limit water consumption on certain days and hours to conserve water supply. Water usage in essential establishments such as hospital emergency sections may be exempted from the restrictions, based on previous incidents.

The extreme weather event comes more than three weeks after the U.S. summer season started on June 1, which has been marked by a combination of heatwaves, rising temperatures, and thunderstorms in different parts of the country.

Since 2022, scientists have determined the existence of a megadrought in southwestern North America for 1,200 years. However, other regions could be affected as well.

In recent years, drought has been reported in the U.S. and other parts of the world, including Europe and Asia. Climate scientists have often linked the phenomenon with climate change and global warming caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gases. While moderate to extreme drought can occur at any time of the year, the tropic and subtropics often experience it during their respective summer seasons.

Chicago Drought

Chicago suburbs such as New Lenox and Mokena are now under level 1 water restrictions, according to a Facebook announcement on Tuesday, June 20, as reported by Newsweek.

This comes as the U.S. Drought Monitor reported severe drought was observed in some parts of central, northwestern, and western Illinois, with a large part of the state experiencing moderate drought or above-average dry conditions.

What is Drought?

Drought is known as a prolonged dry period that is part of the natural climate cycle and it can happen worldwide. It has been characterized as a "slow-onset disaster" involving the lack of precipitation, resulting in water shortage, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO estimates that 55 million people around the globe are affected by drought every year. The intense during such phenomenon are the greatest hazard to livestock and crops in most parts of Earth. Aside from causing lack of water supply, it can also increase the risk of disease, impact people's livelihood, and even force mass migrations.

In Somalia, an excess of 43,000 "excess deaths" due to drought may have transpired last year, researchers from a study found, as cited by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). Half of the said drought-related fatalities include children under five years old.

Aside from UNICEF, the report was released in March 2023 by the Federal Ministry of Health & Human Services and the WHO, along with the Somalian government.