What to do with all the extra snow

A number of years ago, there was so much snowfall in the Chicago area, that crews were told to dump the excess snow from streets and parking lots into Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. While snowfall from streets can't be the cleanest of elements, it can still be cleaned. Salt, dirt, rubbish, and various contaminants were just dumped wantonly into fresh water, drinkable water, inhabited water. Dumping into the Chicago River was stopped after the Bilandic Snow Fall of 1979 due to a car being tossed in as well. How this is any different than the Lake is for another story.

But couldn't this snow/water serve a better purpose elsewhere? Places where droughts and limited, if any drinking water exist? Places where a layer of snow is good for crops rather than be exposed to the harsh winter elements of the Midwest? In addition, this excess snow, which eventually melts, uses up valuable sewer and sanitation resources.
Not wasting time and energy on math, figure that there are almost 3000 miles of streets in Chicago alone, not counting alleys. Streets are anywhere from 10 feet to 100 feet across. Any snowfall of 3 inches or more becomes an issue not just for commuters, but also for space to put the excess snow that has been removed from the street. Take in all the streets in every incorporated township in the six county radius. That is a lot of snow, and a lot of water.
Removing this snow (and ice) and filtering the waste could greatly improve not only the quality of air, water, and land, but it could also benefit those that need it most. Pipelines of freshwater, sold to states and counties in need could greatly improve revenues in cash strapped areas. In addition, government grants could assist the communities in need of the water and aid. People willing to contribute to snow removal in their area can be compensated by tax breaks, as well as contract work, depending on availability.