Friends of the Chicago River applauds the recent ruling of an Illinois judge that the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago violated state environmental laws for using Chicago River water without a valid permit. Judge Shopia H. Hall ruled in a one-page decision February 5 that Trump Tower “is liable for violations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, Illinois Pollution Control Board regulations, and NPDES permit requirements related to timely renewal of its permit,” according to the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.

The Chicago Tribune reports: “During the operation of its heating and air conditioning systems, Trump’s Chicago high-rise siphons nearly 20 million gallons a day through intakes so powerful the machines could fill an Olympic swimming pool in less than an hour. It pumps water back into the river up to 35 degrees hotter.” The lawsuit was filed by the Office of the Illinois Attorney General in 2018. Friends of the Chicago River and the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter joined the suit thereafter. Judge Hall scheduled a hearing on the case for March 11.

“We applaud the court’s decision that Trump Tower is liable for permit violations,” said Margaret Frisbie, executive director of Friends of the Chicago River. “We are pleased to be part of this important suit to protect the health of Chicago River and we will continue to closely work with the Sierra Club and the Illinois Attorney General as an intervener in the case to assure the river is safeguarded against these violations.”