Stormwater YOUtility Makes Excess Runoff Water Everyone’s Problem

The stormwater system in Downers Grove, as well as several other nearby suburbs, is an important one to the community, but its definition and implications can be tricky to understand. Have some questions? We’ve got your back.

What is “stormwater?"

Let’s start with the basics. Stormwater itself, according to the Downers Grove village website, originates from rain or melting snow, or activities involving outdoor water usage like washing your car or hosing off your sidewalk. It is not tapwater (which comes from the faucet and is used for drinking, bathing and cooking) or wastewater (used for showering, washing clothes or flushing the toilet).

All of this water that isn’t absorbed into the ground is called run-off, and the Village of Downers Grove created a stormwater management system that helps to manage this excess of water. Without the system, stormwater could result in flooding.

How can we tell if a stormwater management system is effective?

An effective stormwater management system should prevent flooding of any area in the village in all but the most extreme rain events. Effectiveness is calculated by evaluating the percentage of storms in which runoff is safely stored and conveyed.

Why is this important to Downers Grove?

The Village is making an effort to improve its stormwater management system because while its goal is to be able to service all village properties in 95 percent of rain events, there’s still a 10 percent chunk of properties that could floodin the case of only moderate rain events. This is below the recommended level of control.

What’s the plan for that 10 percent?

Downers Grove has a plan that will include servicing 22 areas where frequent flooding occurs. These projects are projected to be completed in the next eight to ten years and are estimated to cost around $42 million.

So...where’s all of that money coming from? How much am I paying?

Every property in Downers Grove that pays property taxes also pays stormwater fees. The amount paid per property depends on the amount of impervious area — areas that prevent water drainage, like driveways, roofs, swimming pools and parking lots — that property possesses. The average property in Downers Grove will have around 3,300 square feet of impervious area, resulting in a $9.72 fee per month, or $117 fee per year toward the stormwater management effort.

How much revenue will be generated this year in stormwater fees?

By the end of 2016, that total should amount to $3.7 million.

How much revenue is budgeted for 2017?

Around $3.9 million, which means that fees are projected to increase exponentially, but not by a huge chunk.

If we didn’t answer all of your questions, the Village of Downers Grove has a more comprehensive collection of stormwater management information on their website.

Above photo via Anicka Slachta for Patch.