Brown Flood, Green Flood

09/23/20 • 26 min

Giant engineering projects didn’t solve all of Chicago’s water woes. Intense rainfalls are dumping more water on the city, resulting in more flooding. This despite about $4 billion in spending on one of the most expensive public works projects in the nation’s history. So what can Chicago do? Some point to green infrastructure — plants, trees, rooftop gardens — as one of the best ways forward. And we go to Philadelphia to see how that city is really embracing green.

Photo: Todd Melby

Photo: Todd Melby

Previous Episode

Well, Well, Well

In the 1990s, lakes and wetlands dried up in Florida’s fast-growing Tampa Bay region. Some attributed the drastic change to drought; others to overpumping of an underground aquifer. A pitched legal battle, known as the Water Wars, played out. Some government-run utilities wanted to keep pumping from the aquifer; others wanted to look for new water sources. Eventually, they began to work together to find multiple sources of drinking water.

Guests:

Randy and Mark Barthle, Barthle Brothers Ranch owners

Honey Rand, Water Wars author

Eileen Hart, Tampa Bay resident and water rights activist

Ken Herd, Tampa Bay Water, chief science and technical officer

Radhika Fox, US Water Alliance, chief executive officer

Photo: Courtesy of Tampa Bay Water

Next Episode

Make Me Care

After months of research, In Deep reporters and editors have become fascinated with water infrastructure. But can they convince a Gen Zer to care? In this episode, Todd Melby, Annie Baxter and Dan Ackerman go head to head to persuade Erianna Jiles that she should care about water infrastructure. Who will succeed? We also answer listener questions on lead service lines and bidets!

Photo: Erianna Jiles