Thornton Transitional Reservoir

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  • Jul 16, 2015

The Thornton Quarry is part of MWRD’s Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP). Also known as “Deep Tunnel,” this project provides a series of deep, large diameter tunnels and vast reservoirs aimed to reduce flooding and improve water quality in Chicago area rivers and streams. The reservoir at Thornton Quarry will hold up to 7.9 billion gallons of combined sewage and storm water from 14 communities throughout the south suburbs and South Side of Chicago, making it one of the largest reservoirs of its kind in the world

Water from the 30-foot diameter deep tunnel system connect to the reservoir and a 6-foot thick concrete pad reinforced with epoxy-coated reinforcing steel protects the floor of the reservoir from the massive flow of water that occurs in a storm. The concrete pad required 1300 cy of concrete.