INFRASTRUCTURE INSIGHTS
Ruekert & Mielke, Inc. (R/M)
blends experience, vision and technology to
build lasting infrastructure strategies for local communities throughout Wisconsin and Illinois. 
May 23, 2017
Volume 4, Issue 10

Local Neighborhood Storm Water Management   

Per the National Weather Service, April 2017 was the ninth wettest April on record for the Chicagoland area. This much rain will always reveal urban flooding issues that face our municipalities, but it's not just major flooding events that are an issue. As the economy rebounds, many communities are experiencing significant increases in redevelopment activity. Large new single family homes, built where smaller homes previously existed, are commonly referred to as "tear downs." These are a sign of prosperity, but they can also create significant drainage problems. Increased impervious area, coupled with basements that can far exceed the old standard 8-foot depth, can cause localized flooding and drainage issues for many older neighborhoods. Some of these neighborhoods were constructed long before the implementation of modern storm water management, and can often have little to no infrastructure. Sump pumps on the deeper basements can often run continuously, and many new homes have multiple pumps to keep them dry. This alone can have a profound impact on neighborhoods with undersized or absent drainage infrastructure, and the most significant impacts can sometimes be completely unrelated to major rainfall events.
 
So, what can your municipality do to help alleviate these issues? Here are a few ideas.
  • Require Volume Control Best Management Practices (VCBMP's) on all new homes.
  • Require soils information for new basements to verify that sump pumps won't be lower than the groundwater table.
  • Require new sump pumps below a certain depth to discharge into a gray water recycling system for watering lawns, flushing toilets, etc.
  • Create a "cap and trade" style impervious surface trading program.
  • Create shared VCBMP's on a block-by-block or a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis.
These are just examples of the "outside the box" thinking that can help a municipality deal with localized neighborhood flooding. The experts at R/M work with many municipalities in Illinois and Wisconsin, and have experience with a large variety of techniques that can help you manage your storm water. For more information, contact Andy Sikich .
Green Sustainability:
    
The Importance of Water Conservation

The average American household uses 300 gallons of water per day at home. With summer fast approaching, the time for swimming pools and sprinkler systems is almost here. Warmer months can lead to significantly higher water usage, meaning that water conservation is increasingly important! While water makes up about 71% of the Earth's surface, only 3.5% is freshwater, and only about 1% is accessible for human use. So why should you do your part to conserve this 1%? Water conservation reduces energy use and can even save your household money.

Reducing use of appliances such as dishwashers or washing machines is a great place to start. Additionally, cutting down on time showering and turning off your faucet while washing dishes or brushing your teeth can make a huge difference. Conserving water at home can also help with the bigger picture: conserving water now allows cities and regions to plan for more efficient use of their water resources in the future. The greater amount of freshwater used or wasted in an area, the less there is available for future generations to use. This leads to municipalities coming up with new ways to produce clean, fresh water, which will ultimately be at the taxpayers' expense.

For more tips about conserving water at home check out the EPA's WaterSense website. 
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