Storm Water

Overview

Our storm sewer system is designed to drain excess rain and ground water from our streets sidewalks, parking lots and roofs.

In the Village of South Chicago Heights, there are two main types of storm water drain inlets; side inlets and grated inlets.

Side Inlets

Side inlets are the typical type seen adjacent to curbs in our streets. This type relies greatly on the curb to block in water, which is why they are typically depressed at the invert; to improve the ability to capture a greater amount of water.

Grated Inlets

Grated inlets have gratings or grids to prevent large objects and/or debris from mixing into the sewer system. Unfortunately, many small objects are able to fall through, due to the wide spacing in the grids. Catch basins or sumps are able to catch many of the foreign objects because they are located directly below the grating.

Storm Water Pollutants

Many common contaminants enter the storm sewer system, such as:

  • Cadmium
  • Copper
  • Fertilizers
  • Gasoline
  • Heavy Metals
  • Lead
  • Motor Oil
  • Nickel
  • Nitrates
  • Pesticides
  • Phosphorus
  • Trash and other pollutants
  • Zinc

With proper awareness and precaution, many ordinary tasks can be completed in a more safe and clean manner.