Berwyn wants answers on flooding

BERWYN – As the old saying goes, when it rains it pours. But in the west suburbs, including Berwyn, when it rains it floods, and Berwyn is hard set in getting an answer why.

Residents from several neighborhoods came to the Aug. 26 City Council meeting to vent their frustration at having to pump out and clean up basements, sometimes multiple times in the last few months, some said, after heavy rains hit the area. The latest occurred Aug. 22.

Meanwhile, many residents have signed an online petition calling for action.

The petition calls on Mayor Robert Lovero, the Berwyn City Council, and President Kathleen Meany of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago “to start a public investigation of the water system and the increased occurrence of flooding experienced by the residents in the city of Berwyn.”

“Residents have observed an increase in the annual frequency of basement flooding over the last five years, involving not only flood water but sewage flowing into their homes,” the petition states. “This poses both a health risk and financial cost to residents and the community of Berwyn.

While residents acknowledge changes in weather patterns as a contributing factor, “they feel strongly that an investigation of the sewer system, sanitary sewage and storm-water drain system which during heavy rainstorms in Berwyn overflows is needed.”

Petitioners are calling for the city and the MWRD of Greater Chicago to investigate and develop a series of flood reduction initiatives for the residents of Berwyn “to counter future occurrences and offer support during times of home flooding.”

Lovero started the open forum portion of the meeting by ensuring residents he felt their pain, having been a flooding victim himself, and assured the room he was as frustrated as those who signed the petition.

“Trust me when I tell you I understand your frustration,” Lovero said.

As a result, Lovero announced a meeting he will have that was tentatively set for Tuesday with MWRD president Kathleen Meany to discuss flooding issues.

A public meeting has been tentatively set Oct. 15, where MWRD also will be asked to give an explanation of how the Deep Tunnel system actually works, as many residents continue to believe the problem lies with MWRD “not opening the gates” to release water from the system so it doesn’t back up into basements.

A time and place has yet to be determined for the meeting.

Lovero emphasized that flooding is a regional problem and not one exclusive to Berwyn, citing $2.8 million spent on improving the sewer system in the city over the past three years.

“But the expense is going to go on, and we need help,” Lovero said.

City officials are now looking into the availability of Illinois Environmental Protection Agency grants to subsidize residents installing flood mitigating measures, such as overhead sewers, check valves and standpipes. However, those funds will not be coming anytime soon for those who want to take steps immediately.

City Administrator Brian Pabst said staff also is looking to other funding sources.

“We’re trying to make this a meaningful program, not one that is severely underfunded,” Pabst said.