The Water/Sewer/Stormwater Division is committed to the preservation and enhancement of residents’ quality of life through water quality improvement, drainage infrastructure management, flood hazard minimization, and public awareness.  Maintenance is performed on the storm water catch basins and pipes in order to provide an effective drainage system to the community.

The sanitary sewer line drains toilet waste, washing machines, floor drains and bathtub drains to the sanitary sewer main in the street. The waste requires treatment prior to discharge and is transported to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District for Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) sewer. Downspouts, footing drains, and sump pumps handle clean storm water and groundwater.

Storm Sewer Sump 
The storm sewer sump pumps rainwater collected under the basement floor pad to the rear yard. If the discharge of the storm sewer pump isn’t far enough away from the house, water discharged from the basement will collect against the foundation wall or footing and seep into the footing drains. Therefore, it is recommended that the discharge is located at least five feet away from the house. Additionally, it is recommended that storm water be discharging to flow overland to allow water to infiltrate into the soil, reducing the cost of pumping and treating additional water collected in the storm sewer.

Precautions 
During a power outage, the storm sewer pump won’t work. But this only limits the use of the facilities in the basement that need the pump.

Illegal Connection 
If the storm water sump is connected to the private sanitary sewer rather than discharging water from the footing drains to the yard, the sanitary sewer can fill up with storm water. The sanitary sewer was not sized to handle the additional flow from the footing drains. Therefore, sanitary backups in homes and manholes may result.

Other examples of illegal connections to sanitary sewer include:

·     Downspouts,
·     Patio drains,
·     Rear yard drains,
·     Removing covers off sanitary sewer manholes