DuPage County activates flood control facilities after heavy showers

For the second time in under two weeks, DuPage County has activated its regional flood control facilities in response to heavy precipitation.

In Elmhurst, a former limestone quarry that now serves as a massive reservoir went into operation beginning at 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Throughout the night, the mechanically operated facility diverted more than 10 million gallons of floodwater from Salt Creek, lessening the risk of overbank flooding in surrounding areas, according to the county.

Additionally, the Armstrong Park reservoir in Carol Stream, the Spring Creek reservoir in Bloomingdale and the Liberty Park facility in Westmont all hit operational levels overnight. The county says stormwater management employees will continue to monitor conditions and operate facilities as needed until water levels stabilize.

“Our infrastructure is performing as designed to protect residents and property,” county board member Jim Zay said in a statement Monday. “Every operation just proves that the millions of dollars our communities have committed to these countywide facilities were invested wisely.”

The county’s facilities have a total floodwater storage capacity of nearly six billion gallons.