A program in La Grange Park to partially reimburse homeowners for disconnecting downspouts and reduce flooding has been reinstated. Another program that provided free rain barrels to residents, and also is geared toward easing flooding, is coming to a close.
The village was informed recently by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency that because a temporary state budget has been passed, funding for a grant that paid for the reimbursements of downspout disconnections has been restored, said Forrest Tucker, special projects coordinator for the village.
“The stop gap budget has restored the funding,” he said.
Meanwhile, a program offered by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District that allowed up to four free rain barrels to homeowners in the village will conclude by Dec. 31, 2016, he said.
“They’re running out of rain barrels,” he said.
Since getting the news about the downspout disconnection funding, the village has reimbursed 16 homeowners who had already paid to have their downspouts disconnected from the village’s combined sewer system and were waiting for payments.
Downspouts that are connected by a drain pipe to the sewer system contribute to flooding.
“These connections surcharge our combined sewer system and cause basement backups, overland pooling and street flooding,” Tucker said.
When reimbursements were halted, the village extended the deadline to disconnect the downspouts in the mandatory program from January 2017 to January 2019.
Although about 2,257 downspouts have been disconnected, but there are still about 1,691 that need to be removed, he said.
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Homeowners who do not disconnect downspouts by January 2019 may face fines, Tucker said.
“At that point the village will perform a random survey to confirm disconnections,” he said. “Those homes found not to be in compliance will be given direction to comply. Other options will be considered after that, up to and including possible fines.”
Most downspout disconnections are simple and can performed by the homeowner, Tucker said. Each home typically has three or four downspouts and the cost of materials is generally $15 to $25 per downspout. The average home can be disconnected for well under $100 in materials, he said.
If the disconnection is more complex and requires a downspout relocation or pitching of gutters, he said homeowners usually hire a contractor. The cost can range from a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars, he said.
“There are also other green options for disconnection such as rain gardens and bio-swales,” Tucker said. “These are very labor intensive options that can cost a few hundred to a couple thousand as well. This type of disconnection can be performed by the homeowner, but it is a project typically done by landscapers.”
Tucker said simple disconnections are eligible for 100 percent reimbursement up to $100 for materials only. A completed reimbursement application is required with the original receipts attached. Residents can find an application for free rain barrels at Village Hall, 447 N. Catherine Ave., La Grange Park, or on the village’s website at lagrangepark.org.