Drainage Complaints

Regarding Creeks and Streams

The maintenance of ditches, streams, creeks, ponds or other bodies of water is typically the responsibility of the property owner. If a beaver dam or log jam is backing up water, the first step is to determine whose property the blockage is located on and inform the property owner.
If banks are eroding or the ditch/channel needs to be cleaned, the property owner should contact the Army Corps of Engineers before attempting any work to verify if a permit is required or not. Material including rocks, soil, or broken concrete should NEVER be placed in a stream or creek without prior approval of the Army Corps of Engineers.

If you know of a storm sewer inlet or pipe in the area and you see water standing by it, do not attempt to remove any debris. Please call the Public Works Department (618-692-7535) to have it checked out.
If there is standing water on your property, it can be a breeding location for mosquitos. Please try to mitigate the standing water by making sure storm water drains effective across the property.
If you only are seeing storm water draining across your property during a heavy rain, most likely that area is an overland flow path.
If there is standing water on your property from blocking or damming of water from your neighbors property, you neighbor could be in violation of the Illinois Drainage Law. Resolving the issue would be a civil issue between you and your neighbor.

If your sump pump runs continuously, even during dry weather, there may be a problem with a high groundwater table.
If you have experienced water in your basement, but only during a storm event, your sump pump may have malfunctioned, or there is an issue with the way it was installed. Verify that your pump discharge has a proper air gap. Check the power supply to the pump. Confirm that the pump is working and the float is activating correctly.
If your neighbor's sump pump runs constantly onto your property:
Talk to them to relocate the discharge point to a nearby storm sewer. Ultimately, the dispute of sump pump and roof discharge points are a civil issue between the two property owners.
Piping sump pump discharge directly to ditches, creeks or swales is discouraged and only should be considered as a last resort. A constant flow of water into ditches can keep the area saturated preventing homeowners from cutting the grass in the ditch and also can increase the risk of severe erosion. All of which will create bigger problems for the neighborhood.
It is against City ordinance to discharge any storm water or sump pumps into the sanitary sewer. If an illegal tie in is discovered, the homeowner can be cited which can result in a daily fine of $750.