Long-awaited results of Arlington Heights flood study coming

Long-awaited results from one of two Arlington Heights flood studies commissioned after record-breaking rains in 2011 will be presented to the public next week.

The July 23, 2011, storm dumped 2.58 inches of rain in one hour on Arlington Heights and 7½ inches in five hours, causing widespread street flooding and damage to more than 200 homes.

Moreover, it was the fourth large storm in a decade in Arlington Heights. Storms in 2002 and 2008 each brought 4 inches of rain in an hour.

The study to be discussed next Wednesday, Jan. 20, by CDM Smith Engineering, examined the performance of the village's combined sewer system south of Palatine Road and north of Central Road. Results will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in the third-floor board room of village hall, 33 S. Arlington Heights Road.

The results of the second study, which examined problem areas north of Palatine Road and south of Central Road, will be presented in the same meeting format Feb. 3.

On Jan. 20, representatives from CDM Smith will discuss their findings, followed by breakout sessions for individual neighborhoods to talk about the potential improvements identified in the report.

A 24-page executive summary of the study is on the village's website, www.vah.com.

The village board will not take action at the Jan. 20 meeting but will review the report and talk with residents.

Village officials have said for years that the fixes will likely be expensive and that the village does not have a funding mechanism in place to pay for any improvements.

The study suggests the money could come from loans, grants and/or a new stormwater utility tax.

The summary outlines how the study was conducted and potential improvements of either relief sewers or overhead sewers, along with the potential costs, some totaling tens of millions of dollars.

The village commissioned the two studies in 2013.