I have standing water in my backyard. Why is it there and how can I fix this?

While flooding of any kind is potentially damaging and dangerous, backyard flooding after a rainstorm can be expected in lower lying areas. Your yard plays an important role in protecting your home from flooding. A properly graded yard can minimize minor drainage problems and prevent more serious flooding conditions. The grading plan for your property may also have been part of an overall stormwater plan for your subdivision.

In general, a properly graded yard will have some or all of the following characteristics:

  • Ground sloping away from the house – the ground surrounding your home should be graded away from your house’s foundation to ensure that stormwater flows away from the house and not towards it.
  • Pavement sloping away from the house – driveways, sidewalks and patios should be graded away from your house’s foundation to ensure that the stormwater flows away from the house and not towards it.
  • Drainage path towards the Village’s Stormwater Management System – stormwater runoff from your yard should have an unobstructed path towards the Village’s system. Many residential properties have swales (ditches) in the side and rear yards which carry water towards inlets within the yard, a neighboring yard, or the street. Some properties are graded such that the stormwater can flow directly into a creek, ditch or basin.

Show All Answers

1. My street is flooded during a rainstorm. Why is this happening?
2. I had a sewer backup into my home. Why did this happen and what can be done about this?
3. If my sewer backs up, who do I call?
4. Why doesn’t the Village replace all of its old combined sewers?
5. I pay property taxes. Why don’t you use this money to prevent flooding?
6. I have standing water in my backyard. Why is it there and how can I fix this?
7. What is the Village going to do about standing water in my back yard?
8. Does the Village have any programs or assistance that can help me improve my property?
9. What types of building restrictions are in place to help protect my property?
10. Can stormwater from my roof gutter be directed to anywhere on my property?
11. Why does the Village allow for new construction on properties that have held water in the past?
12. Can I block stormwater runoff coming from my neighbor’s property?
13. What action has the Village taken to help provide more space for stormwater?
14. What plans does the Village have Village planning to help with ongoing stormwater challenges?
15. Does the Village have a plan of action in response to a large-scale storm or flooding event? If so, what are the qualifications to activate a response?