Letter: Proposal to Flood School Properties is Dangerous

I am writing to express concern over the City of Elmhurst's proposal to locate stormwater retention facilities at Elmhurst School District 205 school sites.  

We all recognize action is needed to address the stormwater problems that face Elmhurst. However, the current proposal to locate retention facilities at schools is foolish and potentially dangerous. We do not need to compromise child safety to solve this problem. In a recent article in the Water Environment Federation (WEF) Stormwater Report, safety concerns at stormwater facilities were raised as a significant issue that engineers and utility managers need to address. (WEF is an international nonprofit organization representing water quality professionals.)  

This paragraph from the article sums it up rather succinctly: 

“People are drawn to water, whether it is a natural lake, reservoir, river or stormwater pond.  Consider the safety implications of locating stormwater facilities near highly trafficked areas, such as residential neighborhoods, schools, trails or playgrounds. The risk to children of all ages should be of particular concern to designers. Children in particular may think of stormwater features, such as pipes, ponds and channels, as fun places to play or swim. However, high-velocity and rapidly rising waters can make stormwater facilities extremely dangerous.” 

This is so much an issue that the American Society of Civil Engineers, Environment & Water Resource Institute and other water and engineering associations, are currently developing a guidance document, “The Protection of Public Safety at Urban Stormwater Management Facilities,” that is expected to be out by the end of this year.

In addition to safety, there also are public health issues associated with these facilities. Stormwater is polluted with debris, chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides, pet waste, oil, grease and other pathogens. Elmhurst sewer systems have yet to function as separate systems. Our stormwater system is heavily polluted with sewage from the sanitary system. When surcharging of the sanitary system occurs, it ends up in the storm system and Salt Creek. The reservoir as proposed will allow much of this pollution to settle out and remain at the site. And then our children are to play in it? 

This is not the only alternative to solve the problem. There are many more options that have not been looked into, such as street storage, which was proposed back in 1996 by Harza engineering, and also green or sustainable technologies and practices. There is a myth that is circulating in Elmhurst that green or sustainable technologies won’t work. There are examples right here in Elmhurst and the surrounding area that show it does work, i.e. Hawthorne School teachers’ parking lot, Elmhurst College's new dorm facility, Morton Arboretum's parking lot and many more.   

Before any decision is made, I would strongly urge the School Board to get input from teachers and parents most effected by this proposal.

—James Filippini, Elmhurst