Author | Lightnews

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Sep 23

Over the weekend, 500 people swam in the Chicago River for the first open water race through the river in nearly 100 years. The Freshwater Lab's founder and director, Rachel Havrelock, helps us understand how our waters are connected.
www.wbez.org/in-the-loop-...

500 people to take on the Chicago River Swim after nearly 100 years

History is in the making as the city gears up for the first open water river swim since the 1920s.

www.wbez.org

Reposted by The Freshwater Lab

Colin Boyle @colinbphoto.bsky.social · Sep 16

Park No. 571 occupies a site on the Chicago River that once housed a Peoples Gas plant. With Peoples Gas set to remediate its last parcel along the river, the park could be in line for a dramatic expansion.
via Mack Liederman / @blockclubchi.bsky.social
blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/16/b...

7 45

Reposted by The Freshwater Lab

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · Sep 10

Residents and activists held a meeting calling for a community benefits agreement that would help address concerns such as environmental protections and job creation.
trib.al/Lvfo8Ri

South Chicago residents want protections ahead of Chicago's quantum park construction

Residents and activists held a meeting calling for a community benefits agreement that would help address concerns such as environmental protections and job creation.

trib.al

3 17

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Sep 10

"About 97% of data center operators obtain water from municipal supplies. This means that, like regular citizens, these companies are considered customers and are not required to publicly disclose their usage or report it to a regulatory body." #GreatLakes #AI #Chicago #NoMoreSIngleUseWater

Chicago Tribune @chicagotribune.com · Sep 10

A recent report warns the Great Lakes region is not prepared for the unprecedented, growing demand from data centers and other water-heavy users.

Surging number of data centers around the Great Lakes could lead to water shortages, report says

The region is not prepared for the unprecedented demand from data centers and other big users like agriculture.

trib.al

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Sep 3

"Rachel Havrelock, a #UIC professor who directs research on water resources and equity, said exposure to lead intensifies health risks for low-income and minority communities already living near other hazards like industrial air pollution."

WBEZ @wbez.org · Aug 28

Chicago has the highest number of lead water service lines in the nation. WBEZ, Grist and Inside Climate News analyzed city data that allows Chicago’s residents to see where the problem is most acute — and how it intersects with poverty and race. trib.al/n4TkzEu

Where are Chicago’s lead pipes?

Lead water service lines are all over the city. But majority Black and Latino neighborhoods bear the biggest burden, our analysis finds.

trib.al

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Aug 28

#NoMoreSingleUseWater #RecyledWaterForIndusty #WaterReuse #FromWasteToWealth #Illinois #Water #GreatLakes

1

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Aug 28

The bill expands recycled water availability in the district and increases capacity for industrial reuse, protecting the local water supply and allowing the district to profit from selling its recycled water. Congratulations to the residents of Bloomington-Normal and all of those involved!

1 1 1

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Aug 28

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill permitting Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District to sell recycled water and receive wastewater for treatment from private entities within a 50-mile radius, effective immediately. www.25newsnow.com/2025/08/20/n...

New Illinois law lets Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District sell treated wastewater

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law that allows the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District to help better protect the water supply and expand its economic reach.

www.25newsnow.com

1

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Aug 27

"We've worked with groups like Alliance for the Great Lakes and Dr. Rachel Haverlock at #UIC on #water reuse. (...) These data centers shouldn't be coming here and using our clean, fresh drinking water." - Jen Walling, The Illinois Environmental #NoMoreSingleUseWater www.wbez.org/reset-with-s...

Is artificial intelligence guzzling your drinking water?

Illinois is home to more than 220 data centers, but each one needs a lot of water to operate and cool its systems.

www.wbez.org

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Aug 26

Congrats to @mwrdgc.bsky.social Board of Commissioners on the resolution supporting water reuse across Cook County! It was truly a pleasure for The Freshwater Lab and the #UIC Water Reuse Team to collaborate on the resolution and on the research. www.freshwaterlab.org/from-waste-t....

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Aug 25

Increasingly, residents, legislators and freshwater advocacy groups are calling for municipalities to more carefully consider where the #water that supplies these data centers will come from and how it will be managed. #NoMoreSingleUseWater #AI #GreatLakes insideclimatenews.org/news/1606202...

As Data Centers Proliferate Across Illinois, Communities Grapple with How to Supply the Necessary Water - Inside Climate News

Computing facilities require lots of water to operate, putting the burden of allocating resources on municipalities.

insideclimatenews.org

1

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Aug 22

Great Lakes state officials have touted the region’s “blue economy,” and lured data centers to locate in the region, offering tax breaks and other incentives on top of the promise of all the water these centers need to cool their energy-intensive computing equipment. news.wttw.com/2025/08/20/m...

Mega Data Centers Could Drain Water Supplies in Great Lakes Region if Protections Aren’t Put in Place: Report

A new report explores how unprecedented levels of consumption by heavy water users — namely “hyperscale” data centers — could lead to conflicts over and even shortages of water, even in the Great Lakes.

news.wttw.com

2 3

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Aug 22

Who needs all that water when you’ve got a virtual ’soulmate’? capitolfax.com/2025/08/21/w...

Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » Who needs all that water when you’ve got a virtual ’soulmate’? (Updated)CapitolFax.com

capitolfax.com

Reposted by The Freshwater Lab

Minnesota Reformer @minnesotareformer.com · Aug 20

Not just electricity — water supplies will be taxed by data centers minnesotareformer.com/2025/08/20/n...

Not just electricity — water supplies will be taxed by data centers • Minnesota Reformer

Proposed mines, factories and data centers threaten to deplete the underground aquifers that supply up to 40% of the Great Lakes’ volume — and drinking water reserves for nearly three-quarters of Minn...

minnesotareformer.com

3 44 72

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Aug 20

"Without a consistent and transparent way to track #water consumption, the public and gov officials will make decisions without complete information on how these massive companies’ hot and thirsty buildings will affect their communities and their environments." planetdetroit.org/2025/08/grea...

Data centers are coming to the Great Lakes — and they could drain local water supplies

AI-driven data centers are using more water, competing with local needs in communities across the Great Lakes and country.

planetdetroit.org

2 2

Reposted by The Freshwater Lab

The University of Illinois System @uofilsystem.bsky.social · Aug 13

The new Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park won't just house breakthroughs in computing speed. It'll do that as a thoughtful steward of Lake Michigan. 🌅

UIC's @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social developed a plan that uses advanced treatment techniques for the goal of creating zero water waste. 💧

Chicago’s “Quantum Prairie” Promises New Era of Great Lakes Technology and Water Use

Explore the quantum shift in Chicago’s economy as it transforms the former U.S. Steel South Works site into a sustainable future.

www.circleofblue.org

2 2

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Aug 6

Help redefine the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal into a waterway that reflects our values and vision
www.boldpastbrightfuture.org

Ayuda a redefinir el Canal Sanitario y de Navegación de Chicago en una vía fluvial que refleje nuestros valores y visión www.boldpastbrightfuture.org

#TheBackwardRiver

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Aug 5

“I am very invested in implementing water reuse in the state of Illinois, and we know that it’s easier to build water reuse systems with new projects than it is for already established projects,” Rachel Havrelock said. “And [IQMP] is going to be a big project.” #NoMoreSingleUseWater

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Jul 11

One study estimates that AI-driven data centers could consume 1.7 trillion gallons of water globally by 2027. #NoMoreSingleUseWater #AI #RecycledWaterForAI #RecycledWaterForIndustry www.bbc.com/news/article...

'I can't drink the water' - life next to a US data centre

Residents in rural Georgia say the data centre next door has disrupted their water supply.

www.bbc.com

1

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Jul 10

The use of #water for #data center cooling often requires pulling water from nearby sources-depleting local water sources. Publicly available data for data center water usage is limited, and there is often a lack of monitoring on site. #AI #NoMoreSingleUseWater climatejusticealliance.org/ai/

What is AI and why do you keep hearing about it? And what are data centers? How are they connected? - Climate Justice Alliance

Are your chats with AI fueling the climate crisis? Are your chats with Artificial Intelligence fueling the Climate Crisis?

climatejusticealliance.org

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Jul 9

Freshwater Lab member Citlalli Trujillo sheds light on the impending demolition of the Damen Silos. #Pilsen #McKinleyPark #Chicago insideclimatenews.org/news/0307202...

These Century-Old Chicago Silos Are Slated for Demolition. Neighbors Want to Save Them - Inside Climate News

Frustration with the silos’ owner boiled over during a public meeting. It’s not clear yet how the riverfront site would be used.

insideclimatenews.org

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Jul 8

Data centers require a lot of electricity, which is driving rates up around the country and grabbing headlines. What gets less attention is how much water they need. #NoMoreSingleUseWater #BlueEconomy #WaterBelt #RecycledWaterForAI #RecycledWaterForIndustry insideclimatenews.org/news/1606202...

As Data Centers Proliferate Across Illinois, Communities Grapple with How to Supply the Necessary Water - Inside Climate News

Computing facilities require lots of water to operate, putting the burden of allocating resources on municipalities.

insideclimatenews.org

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Jul 2

Legislative update: Illinois House Bill 2391, which allows treated wastewater from publicly owned treatment works to be used for both irrigation and industrial applications, was passed! We're grateful for all the advocates, including our own Rachel Havrelock, & sponsors. www.ilga.gov/Legislation/...

Official government website of the Illinois General Assembly

Welcome to the Official government website of the Illinois General Assembly

www.ilga.gov

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · Jul 1

“The property may be privately owned but the water remains under the public trust,” said Rachel Havrelock, director of The Freshwater Lab at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Block Club Chicago @blockclubchi.bsky.social · Jul 1

As the Damen Silos demolition moves forward, Southwest Siders are asking the city to consider preservation. blockclubchi.co/3GntkyI

The Freshwater Lab @thefreshwaterlab.bsky.social · May 28

As part of a coalition of community leaders, university scientists and concerned citizens who have joined together to answer a question that has haunted this South Side neighborhood for decades: Why is it that Chatham experiences some of the worst basement flooding in the city?

Chicago Tribune @chicagotribune.com · May 14

Why is it that Chatham experiences some of the worst basement flooding in the city?

Scientists join the fight against basement flooding in Chatham: ‘The cavalry is coming’

The South Side is a flooding hot spot without being a rain hot spot, indicating other forces are at work.

www.chicagotribune.com