Flooding issues from April’s storms take center stage at 45th Ward meeting with Chicago water management officials

by CHRISTOPHER BRINCKERHOFF

Officials defended the city’s strategy of allowing water to pond on streets during rainstorms as residents questioned the approach during a 45th Ward community meeting.

Chicago Department of Water Management officials discussed April’s storms that flooded many streets and basements and what the city is doing to reduce flooding at a June 22 meeting held by Alderman James Gardiner (45th) at Horizon Science Academy, 4434 N. Larimie Ave.

Water management deputy commissioner John Gallagher said a storm from April 13 to 17 dropped more than 4 inches of rain near O’Hare Airport and in the ward. The storm peaked around 4 a.m. on April 15, and 2 inches of rain fell overnight. In some areas, the sewer system reached capacity.

Through April 21, the city logged 112 completed storm-related service requests in the 45th Ward, including 78 reports of basement flooding, 33 reports of water on streets and one flooded viaduct. Citywide, the department responded to 719 basement flooding reports and 1,602 storm-related service requests.

For flooded basements, the city typically verifies the main sewer  is flowing properly and cleans it when required. It also cleans catch basins for water on the street calls.

Gallagher said a typical neighborhood sewer is 12 to 18 inches in diameter and serves dozens of homes and catch basins.

“That main sewer can become overtaxed rapidly,” he said.

Water management deputy commissioner Brendan Schreiber said the most common ways water enters basements are surcharged sewers, damaged private drains and seepage through foundation walls.

Schreiber pointed out that areas near Northwest Highway and North Nagle Avenue, and near North Central Avenue and West Foster Avenue were where there were the most flooded basements.

“Where we see a cluster, we believe that may be more leaning towards a sewer surcharge event, and where we see it more sporadic is more likely than private drainage.”

To reduce sewer surcharging, the department installs restrictors in catch basins to slow stormwater entering the sewer. Schreiber acknowledged the approach is unpopular with some residents but said it reduces the likelihood of basement backups.

“I’ll admit, some people may not agree with it, but we take a position that water on the street is not water in the basement,” he said.

“By design, those restrictors will keep water in the parking lane.”

Standing water remaining four to six hours after a storm often indicates a clogged catch basin or another drainage problem, Schreiber said.

Allowing water to remain on streets temporarily so the sewer system can catch up is”a balancing act,” Gallagher said.

Residents questioned whether that balance is working in some places.

One resident said stormwater collects near North Naper Avenue and West Palatine Avenue, where the streets lack curbs.

“Both streets don’t have curbs, and the water on Palatine was knee deep,” the resident said.

“There’s also a sidewalk curb that has created almost an artificial dam in front of our house where any stormwater can’t even get to the catch basin.We have a check valve, a sump pump, a backup, everything was working appropriately, and we were on the streets trying to get water away from our home.”

Another resident described standing water at a low point neighbors jokingly call “Lake Catalpa.”

“In my neighborhood, I’m downhill; I’m at the end of a road,” the resident said.

The resident said narrow slot catch basin covers funnel water toward the low spot, creating the recurring ponding.

Gallagher said replacing the restrictor with a larger opening might reduce flooding but increase the risk of water entering basements.

“I don’t want to cause a problem that’s worse than the problem you’re experiencing now,” he said.

A third homeowner said flooding became a recurring problem after decades without incidents.

“Every time it rains on my block, it gets flooded and it’s the third time in the past three years that my basement got flooded,” the resident said. “And the insurance doesn’t cover that because I’m not living in the flooding area.”

Gallagher said the department would investigate the city’s infrastructure but suggested the homeowner also have the property’s private drain inspected, since new recurring flooding after years without problems could indicate tree root intrusion or a collapsed drain.

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