http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/558107,091507hickoryhills.article
“Boettcher said Hickory
Hills has spent more than $1 million cleaning
and repairing all city mains. It seemed to help
a little, but didn't solve the problem,"
Boettcher said. "We've done everything we can on
our main lines.”
Hickory Hills probes pipe
overflow
September 14, 2007
BY Richard Sensenbrenner Correspondent
Hickory Hills public works director Larry
Boettcher is monitoring the city's flow into the
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's storm
sewer line at 99th Street and Roberts Road in order
to try and find out who, or what, is causing
wastewater to surge up from a manhole in Worth and
spill into Stony Creek.
"Basically, sanitary water is entering the
stormwater system and, eventually, Stony Creek in
Worth," Boettcher said. "We are monitoring the flow
of water that leaves Hickory Hills into the trunk
line to see whether or not we exceed minimum
standards."
In May, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation
District contacted Palos Hills and Hickory Hills,
ordering the towns to submit action plans by Sept.
21 for the reduction of water flow into the MWRD
line. Hickory Hills and Palos Hills are the only two
entities that use the line.
The MWRD contacted the municipalities after
receiving a threat from the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency to fix the problem or face legal
action.
Boettcher said Hickory Hills has spent more than
$1 million cleaning and repairing all city mains.
"It seemed to help a little, but didn't solve the
problem," Boettcher said. "We've done everything we
can on our main lines.
"We will comply with the wishes of the MWRD and
propose a plan for the inspection of private lines
in select areas to see if sump pumps are discharging
to grade."
Boettcher told Hickory Hills aldermen this week
some sump pumps in private residences were
discovered to be hooked up to the storm system
instead of discharging to yards, and were
disconnected by the city. The discoveries came
mostly during inspections when homes were put up for
sale.
"The MWRD told us that they do not put any water
through that trunk line so it has to be us or the
other town that is causing it," Boettcher said.
"Five years ago, I told the MWRD that I think their
line is backing into our system.
"The water flow metering at 99th and Roberts Road
might reflect that. That would be a subject of major
discussion with the MWRD."
