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Managing Stormwater

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Why does stormwater have to be managed?

Stormwater runoff in urban areas must be directed through a system of pipes, ditches, catch basins and storm drains to minimize effects on private property. Because much of the stormwater system was built before stormwater codes existed and was not originally built to handle the density of houses that exist now, it is a necessity to make the most of the current stormwater system. 

Responsibilities of Village stormwater staff include: 

A Stormwater Utility Fee was established in 2012 to provide a dedicated fund for some of these stormwater management needs. 

A significant part of the Village's stormwater management also involves implementation of methods and procedures that minimize the amount of pollutants that enter the creeks. Because of this, the Village sometimes incorporates less traditional, more "green" construction methods as a means to improve water quality. 

The Village is required to comply with the federal Clean Water Act and the DuPage County stormwater regulations, and is permitted through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).

What is the Village doing to address stormwater?

Ongoing maintenance operations include street sweeping, inspecting and cleaning of stormwater inlets, ditch repair and the repair and replacement of stormwater mains. In addition, the Village has commissioned several reports over the last ten years to help assess the condition of the existing stormwater system and to prioritize the work. These have provided the framework for many stormwater improvement projects. 

  • In 2006, a Stormwater Master Plan was completed which provided recommendations for how the stormwater system should be managed to ensure compliance with the federal and county regulations.
  • In 2007, a Watershed Infrastructure Improvement Plan (WIIP) was completed which provided recommendations on capital improvements that should be made to the stormwater system. To address some of the recommended capital needs, the Village issued $25 million in debt in 2008. The full value of the bond has now been used to fund a variety of stormwater improvement projects. 
  • The 2014 Stormwater Project Analysis included a new approach for prioritizing stormwater capital improvement projects that is consistent with the Village's fee-based stormwater utility. The goal of this new approach is to establish a minimum service level standard for stormwater management such that the stormwater system will safely convey and store 95% of all rainfall events.