1) The Chicago Green Alley Program
Chicago Department of Transportation

Three types of "permeable alleys" are currently being piloted throughout the city. They are constructed to allow rainwater to soak into the ground – reducing water flow into the sewer system and backyard flooding. Once tested, this technique will be used throughout the city.
Go to Chicago's Green Alleys webpage (external link)

For a good overview of the Green Alleys program, read
Chicago's Green Alleys: A large-scale project to reduce impervious surface by Margaret Buranen (external link)

Also see The Chicago Green Alley Handbook (external link)
winner of the 2007 Communication Honor Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects

"Hats off to Chicago! It's inspiring to see something this impressive come from city hall. The graphics are so simple and it communicates beautifully to its intended audience. It would be easy for other cities to replicate and we hope that they do." —2007 Professional Awards Jury Comments

2) Chicago's Guide to Rooftop Gardening
“Rooftop gardens absorb rainfall and reduce urban runoff that would otherwise collect pollutants and empty into sewers. A rooftop garden filters and moderates the temperature of any water that is released into the sewer.” See Chicago’s Guide to Rooftop Gardening (external link)

3) Disconnect your downspout
The City actively encourages homeowners to disconnect their downspouts from the sewer system and direct the water instead to their yards or gardens.

Public service announcements, community meetings, instructional video tapes, brochures and discounts on materials for downspout disconnection have all been provided to homeowners.

"The City plans to continue and expand its efforts to educate citizens on the benefits of disconnecting existing downspouts and on alternative uses of stormwater. The city also started a rain barrel program, outfitting reused 50-gallon plastic jugs with spigots, overflows and mosquito netting, and selling them to the public at $40 a pop.”
Go to document.write('@');1321681278.1218051118&BV_EngineID=ccccadeeldegmfdcefecelldffhdfho.0&deptCategoryOID=-536889977&contentType=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=SubAgency&entityName=Conserve+Chicago+Together&deptMainCategoryOID=-536889943" target="_blank" class="urlHot" >Chicago's Stormwater Management webpage
(external link)