When it comes to keeping a community healthy, happy, and valuable, nothing is quite as important as the environment. Here in Aurora Illinois, we enjoy green spaces and outdoor recreation areas unique in the world. The Fox River lies just on our doorstep, and is a major attraction for those looking to engage in waterfront activities year round. Whether it is swimming in the summer time or taking those flies in their heat shrink tubing out to angle for muskies, the Fox has something to offer every citizen.
The Fox River is also a very important part of the Aurora landscape for those looking for prime pieces of real estate. Commercial, residential, and industrial plots on the Fox are worth more than similar pieces of land in the rest of the city. Locations on the banks means easier access to recreation, transportation, and of course you can't beat the view. If you own some farmland, you may be able to save money on vacuum pump systems as well, since you won't have to transport water as far.
As important as the Fox River is for Aurora residents today, there was a time when it was virtually unusable for many of the activities people participate in on it today. Major water routes such as the Fox have always been big attractions for industry, because they allow easy transportation. As an older city, Aurora's industry grew during a time which had no real environmental regulation. No one had heard of manure management, wastewater treatment, and most expected that Mother Nature could balance herself out.
We now know that this is simply not true. The waste and chemicals produced by the industries along the Fox River caused significant damage not only to it, but to its entire watershed. Citizens began to take note of this damage in the late 1970s, and since that time concentrated efforts have resulted in a much cleaner Fox. Automotive dunnage and cement blocks no longer line the banks. Chemicals no longer intermingle with the water. State, city, federal, and private funding have resulted in a river that is now almost completely pollution free.
While efforts to clean up the Fox are largely confined to its banks, efforts to conserve the important river are the concern of every Aurora resident. For that reason, the city and its citizens maintain a rigid water billing program. Households and businesses are required to pay according to the amount of water they use each month, a program which encourages conservation. In turn, less energy is expended in creating potable water, which creates yet another environmental dividend.
The efforts to conserve water have had a noticeable impact on Aurora's landscaping. Toronto has a similar climate to the city of Aurora, muggy summers and warm temperatures mean that many species of plants grow easily here and green lawns are not hard to come by. However, the efforts to conserve water have meant that there are less exotic foliage species present in homes. Instead, native plants which tend to need less water in order to thrive are found in abundance.
When you are talking about environmental issues in Aurora Illinois, you will almost always be talking water and the Fox River. The state of the river today is a legacy of the efforts of citizens and businesses in the city, whose commitment to the environment has paid off in all areas.
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