Bigger Houses Causing La Grange Flooding?

LA GRANGE, IL — As with many suburbs, smaller houses in La Grange often get additions or are replaced with bigger ones. That means more impervious surfaces — in other words, more areas where water is unable to seep.

At this week's Village Board meeting, President Mark Kuchler noted the trend of larger homes and asked about their effects on flooding.

Paul Siegfried, an engineer with Baxter & Woodman, said bigger houses individually have little effect on flooding. But collectively, they are contributing to stormwater runoff, he said.

Kuchler said that in the aggregate, all the bigger houses can have an impact.

"If it was just one, it wouldn't be a problem. When you have a lot, it can be a bigger issue," Kuchler said.

Siegfried said Kuchler was right.

"Most of the systems that are in place were developed before there were modern stormwater regulations and standards," he said.

La Grange's most recent flooding was last weekend, causing multiple feet of water to flow into basements, particularly on the village's south side.