Lombard installs devices to reduce flooding

Carl Goldsmith knows he can never prevent flooding.

But Lombard's public works director is making sure the village takes short- and long-term steps to prevent property damage caused by high water.

Short-term, the village is spending about $20,000 this fall to install backflow prevention valves at three ponds, Goldsmith said.

The valves are meant to stop water from storm sewers or the East Branch of the DuPage River from entering ponds that already are full, Goldsmith said. Public works staff ordered three backflow prevention valves for Charles Lane Pond and one valve each for Hammerschmidt Pond and Vista Pond.

“Where we're trying to prevent backup, the item is put into place. It stays in the closed position and as water enters the pipe, it opens the valve and allows water to flow in the direction we want it to move in, Goldsmith said. “Then it closes under pressure and doesn't let water back in.

Goldsmith said the backflow prevention valves should be installed this month.

Other flood-alleviation measures public works staff members devised after eight community meetings following the rains on July 23 and 24 will take longer to implement, Greg Gron, trustee and public works committee member, said.

“If your basement filled with water, they want the action right now, but it does take some time to get that action plan flowing, Gron said.

Improving 10 pumping stations that keep water moving along the sewer system is the public works committee's highest priority.

When pumping stations function, they prevent water from backing up into basements of low-lying homes, said Angela Podesta, utilities superintendent. But when they don't, even the smallest topographical features can cause properties to be at a higher risk for flooding.

Under the proposed improvements, four stations will receive on-site generators for use during power outages, and the electrical equipment at four other stations will be raised higher off the ground to keep it from becoming submerged during storms. Two stations will receive both an on-site generator and an equipment lift.

Purchasing and installing on-site generators will cost about $397,000 and raising the pumping equipment will cost just less than $100,000, according to public works estimates.

Lombard officials also have proposed increasing the size and storage capacity of three ponds and continuing to disconnect gutter downspouts from storm sewer lines.

Officials will seek grants for some projects and discuss funding others with capital improvement funds in next year's budget, Goldsmith said.

“There are some very significant, high dollar projects that need to be undertaken that exceed current available funding, Goldsmith said. “We've done some control measures, but residents are not happy.

Lombard resident Lynn Roby is among those dissatisfied with the village's response. She said developers have added dirt to lots near her home on School Street and built new homes on higher ground, causing her property, and the homes of several of her neighbors, to flood repeatedly.

Roby said her family has spent close to $20,000 on pumps and other flood-prevention measures for their home, which she said barely avoided taking on water in the late July storms.

“We can't prevent flooding, Goldsmith said. “What we can try to do is alleviate the damage it causes to private property.