Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a lawsuit against the Trump Organization, alleging multiple violations of clean water laws. According to the lawsuit, the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago has failed to meet several requirements of a state permit intended to limit the number of fish trapped against river water intake screens or killed by sudden changes in pressure or temperature.
The lawsuit also alleges that “building managers failed to properly renew the permit and have been operating the massive cooling system unlawfully for nearly a year.” The building draws more than 20 million gallons of water daily from the Chicago River, pumping water back into the river up to 35 degrees warmer.
“Trump Tower continues to take millions of gallons of water from the Chicago River every day without a permit and without any regard to how it may be impacting the river’s ecosystem,” Madigan said in a statement. “I filed my lawsuit to make sure Trump Tower cannot continue violating the law.”
The Trump Organization released a statement accusing Madigan of playing politics with the lawsuit. In June, the Chicago Tribune reported that the Trump Tower was the only building that draws water from the Chicago River that had failed to comply with current clean water laws.
This Quick Read was submitted by Greg Zimmerman, executive editor, Building Operating Management. Read his recent story about the new LEED v4.1 rating system.
