'Subpar' Drainage In Western Springs Neighborhood: Official

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — Western Springs has outlined potential solutions for flooding in the Ridgewood subdivision. But the village must confront a big obstacle — an estimated price tag of $24 million.

Ridgewood, which is in the village's southwestern corner, has been identified as one of two local neighborhoods with major flooding issues. The other is Springdale.

The Ridgewood subdivision was built from the late 1950s to 1970 and annexed into Western Springs in 1973. Its stormwater system does not meet village codes, according to the village.

Village Engineer James Tock, who was hired a few months ago, presented his findings about Ridgewood flooding at a Village Board meeting in early December.

He said that while the subdivision has some stormwater infrastructure, it is "really subpar in every way." He cited "undersized" storm sewers, a "severe" lack of water detention and "inadequate" overland flow routes.

Some storm sewers go through private property, which makes the issue even more difficult for the village, Tock said. The goals, he said, are to reduce the frequency of ponding and reduce the depth of ponding.

"These planning-based solutions don't look at the downstream impact to Flagg Creek," Tock said. "That would take place at the next level of design."

To demonstrate the severity of the problem in Ridgewood, Tock said the subdivision requires the equivalent of 28 Olympic-sized pools of water detention. Getting more such storage, he said, may require an agreement with the local park district because Ridgewood Park contains the biggest portion of undeveloped land.

In talking about the $24 million price tag, Tock said the village must develop a long-term plan for paying for such projects. No discussion took place on how to pay for Ridgewood infrastructure.

Officials said two village committees would further discuss the Ridgewood situation at meetings in January.

At the same board meeting, trustees backed away from a plan for rain gardens in Ridgewood, which officials considered a tool to reduce flooding. Ridgewood residents strongly opposed the gardens, saying they were unattractive and wouldn't solve the problem in any case.

Rain gardens would be far less expensive than other improvements. But officials said the rain gardens would only provide a minor benefit for the community. To make them effective, "We have to implement them through all of our future projects," said Casey Biernacki, the village's assistant director of municipal services.