Stormwater Management Best Practices

• Have your downspouts “splash on grade.” This means having your downspouts deposit water from your gutters right at ground level instead of going to an underground pipe. Doing this allows water to flow slowly and naturally to an inlet or drainage area, which reduces the chances of inundating the system and causing flooding. In older homes, this may also reduce the amount of demand on a sump pump and help prevent basement flooding. Learn more here.
• Keep your sump pump in working condition. Sump pumps are designed to remove water from around the foundation of a building and can help prevent basement flooding. Like other mechanical systems, they need periodic maintenance to continue functioning properly. As part of this maintenance, replace the pump’s batteries on a regular basis to ensure it can continue working in the event of a power outage. A sump pump with a dead battery will not be able to pump excess water out of your basement and could lead to flooding.
• Maintain grading on your property. Proper maintenance of your property’s grading can help prevent and manage stormwater issues. When considering home improvement projects, keep in mind stormwater runoff and how to minimize changes to your property’s natural grading. This can help prevent new issues for both your neighbors and yourself.

What to Do When It Floods

• Turn Around, Don’t Drown. If you see a significant amount of water running across a roadway, please turn around. Water depth and flow can be difficult to see, and driving into and stalling in moving water can be very dangerous.
• If you see or believe a stormwater inlet is blocked or clogges, please contact the Public Works Department to review and complete any necessary actions. During the Department’s regular work hours (7am-3pm, Monday-Friday), call the Public Works main line at 847-272-4711 to report the issue. You can help out by making sure inlets on or near your property are clear and not covered with landscape waste or other debris. Clear leaves, grass, or dirt from the grates of the structure. 
• If your basement or home is flooding, try to determine the cause. Flooding can be caused by a number of different issues, including a burst pipe. If your pipes have burst, turn off the main water valve into your home to stop the flow until you can have a plumber do a repair. 
• If your basement is flooding and you believe it is due to stormwater or a sanitary backup, contact Public Works immediately. During the Department’s regular work hours (7am-3pm, Monday-Friday), call 847-272-4711 to report flooding. After hours, please contact the Police non-emergency line at 847-564-2060 to report the issue. An after-hours Public Works employee will be dispatched to investigate.