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The original item was published from 4/3/2020 3:13:05 PM to 4/3/2020 3:14:11 PM.
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Posted on: April 3, 2020[ARCHIVED] Westmont Stormwater Management Update, Flood Preparation Tips For Residents
Westmont, Illinois
Date Issued: April 3, 2020
Spring is often accompanied by seasonal storms. The Village of Westmont Public Works Department wants to share several helpful tips that may protect your property from flooding as well as give an update on several stormwater management projects.
“Our Public Works Department provides year-round maintenance of our stormwater system to help decrease the possibility of flooding in our community,” said Assistant Director of Public Works Noriel Noriega. “Prior to the storms that occurred last weekend, our crews were diligent in checking our storm sewers and storm drains to make sure they were debris-free. This is a big task and we ask residents to help keep the drains on their property clear of debris to help ensure our storm sewer system is effective.”
STORM SEWER MAINTENANCE
Westmont Public Works has a progressive Storm Sewer Maintenance Program, which includes storm sewer jetting, catch basin cleaning, street sweeping, and ditching, which reestablishes the ditch line to improve storm water flow. WPW provides routine detention basin inspections, however, prior to significant rain events, staff performs inspections in our problematic locations, inspects storm structures throughout the Village and clears obstructions such as leaves and other debris, as well as monitors nuisance areas during rain events.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROJECTS
WPW is consistently improving Westmont’s storm water system with a variety of projects. Following are some of the recently completed and currently schedule stormwater management projects in Westmont:
- 2018 West End / Roslyn / Burlington Storm Sewer Project
- 2018 Naperville Warwick Storm Sewer Project
- 2019 FDHQ Detention Basin Project
- 2019 400 Block North Warwick Stormwater Management Project
- In Design: 61st / Richmond Stormwater Detention Modification Project
- In Design: 63rd / Richmond Stormwater Stabilization Project
- In Design: Cumnor / 61st Streambank Stabilization Project
- In Design: Deer Creek Detention Modification Project
- Completed Engineering Study: Grant / Richmond Flooding Concerns
FLOOD PREPARATION TIPS FOR RESIDENTS
The Village reminds residents of some ways you can help decrease the risk of flooding on your property. Following is a list of ways you can help prevent unwanted water in and around your house:
- Perform routine landscape maintenance and stabilize ground with vegetation to prevent erosion of soils / mulch.
- Pickup leaves and debris throughout your yard.
- Pickup garbage/litter in and around your property. In your subdivision...do your part for the community!
- Help clear obstructions from storm manholes around your property.
- Refrain from doing the laundry or taking long showers during heavy rain events. Sanitary sewers become inundated with rain water and reduces capacity in their system which increases the probability of sewage backups into basements.
- Grading around your foundation should be reviewed to ensure positive drainage away from your foundation.
- Direct downspouts and sump pumps away from your foundation. Ensure downspouts and sump pumps are not connected to a sewer line that frequently backs up. During heavy rainfall events, sewers may reach capacity and additional runoff from our gutters puts more stress on the system, which may lead to more water backing up into homes and basements.
- Consider installing rain barrels and cisterns. Rain barrels and cisterns are large tanks that can be connected to your home’s gutter downspouts. They are an easy and inexpensive way to capture and store water falling from gutters, which can later be used to water gardens and lawns.
- Consider installing a rain garden or bioswale. These are native plants that reduce stormwater flow by providing a pleasant area where rain can naturally soak into the ground, instead of entering sewer systems.
- Long Term Goals: Consider Green Infrastructure (i.e. dry wells, permeable pavers, etc) to be included in any home remodeling efforts. Green infrastructure is a stormwater management practice that protects, restores and simulates the natural water cycle. Unlike grey infrastructure that relies mostly on pipes and conventional hard surfaces, green infrastructure uses soil and plants to allow rainwater to soak into the ground. Putting water back into the ground helps to recharge aquifers and reduces surface runoff to streams and rivers.
For more information on the Village stormwater management please visit: https://westmont.illinois.gov/index.aspx?NID=478
For information from DuPage County on flood preparation please visit: https://www.dupageco.org/EDP/Stormwater_Management/1163/
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Larry McIntyre
Village of Westmont
Communications/PIO
630-417-0280
communications@westmont.il.gov
