Stormwater improvement project commended by U.S. Senator Duckworth

The City of Wood Dale has taken many steps throughout the years to address stormwater issues and ensure clean water for its citizens. On June 30, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth visited Wood Dale to tour the city's ongoing stormwater improvement project and learn about how it benefits the community.

With regular, heavy storms changing the course of the natural environment, the Wood Dale City Council undertook a multiyear, multi-phased flood control project that will benefit thousands of Wood Dale homes and lessen the impact felt by residents.

Sen. Duckworth visited Westview Elementary School in Wood Dale where this cooperative project between the city and Wood Dale Elementary District 7 is currently under construction.

The senator engaged in a discussion with city officials about clean water and its effects on the environment, while stressing the importance for all citizens to have access to uncontaminated water. Duckworth also noted the significance for municipalities to invest in building strong infrastructures that support these ideals. Stormwater runoff can push pesticides, oil and other chemical contaminants into rivers and streams, causing harm to the health of both humans and wildlife.

In Wood Dale, the planning began years ago and the city has already entered into the latter stages of its improvement project that will mitigate flooding problems that have existed for half a century.

In 2018, a heavy storm event resulted in excess flooding throughout Wood Dale, with 3.4 inches of rain coming down over the span of 90 minutes. The storm sewer system was overwhelmed and numerous homes faced property damage.

Many Wood Dale residences were constructed 20-40 years prior to the adaptation of modern stormwater management regulations and are not suited for such a large flood event or even lower intensity storms that occur frequently due to the ever-changing climate. Provisions for stormwater detention, overland flow routes, or water quality provisions to alleviate contaminant runoff into Salt Creek were never considered as residential subdivisions were originally developed. Over time, these deficiencies resulted in decades of severe localized flooding, property damage, accelerated streambank erosion, and unconstrained contaminant runoff into Salt Creek.

This increase in frequency and severity of such record-setting storm events made the city's $28 million stormwater improvement project all the more necessary. When complete, the entire project is expected to benefit nearly half of the city's approximately 14,000 residents by reducing both potential damage to private property and flood insurance claims, and by reducing the spread of harmful contaminants and improving the quality of local waterways.

The project plan involves increasing storm sewer inlet capacity, enlarging underground conveyance and storage, and the ability to divert up to 4.5 million gallons of water into underground storage facilities with lift station and discharge piping. In the project's current phase, the city is working cooperatively with Wood Dale Elementary District 7 to install additional underground detention infrastructure on School District property, as well as a hydrodynamic separator to reduce the amount of contaminants discharged into Salt Creek. In addition, the plan will result in considerable savings of taxpayer investment dollars compared to alternative project sites.

Sen. Duckworth was impressed by the project, and acknowledged city and school district officials for their dedication to providing responsible improvements that benefit both the environment and quality of life for Wood Dale citizens.

Wood Dale has been recognized for its planning efforts and dedication to the natural environment. Wherever and whenever possible, city officials develop fiscally-responsible projects that benefit the community as a whole and save taxpayer dollars. For more information on city projects, visit www.wooddale.com or follow the city's social media.