ChitownLiving | Chicago Real Estate + Life

  We have had a lot of rain in Chicago this Spring and Summer.  Above are two typical corners in my neighborhood of Lincoln Park.  The photos were taken several hours after the rain ended.  I never remember this happening.  Corners that were once dry after a storm seem to flood.  The corner at the end of my street was just “fixed” by the city and now it floods. My question is why is this happening?  Doing a little research, here is an excerpt from the Chicago Department of Water Management website:

Chicago initiated its inlet control valve system (called the “Rainblocker” program) as one facet of a multi-dimension concept. When the restrictor valve is installed in the storm water catch basin in the street, the device, in essence, shrinks the pipe to funnel and regulate the water from the street to the main sewer line. During a heavy rain event, the smaller opening allows less water into the sewer system. The streets act as a temporary holding area for the rainfall. Surplus water in the system will not be forcing contaminated water back through homeowners’ private lines and into the home’s lowest spot - the basement. The street ponding buys time for the system to catch up.

I know a lot of folks far smarter than I came up with this solution, but sounds like a work around.  Check out the complete article and other resources.