DuPage County Stormwater Management News & Updates

DuPage County, Illinois sent this bulletin at 09/30/2025 11:23 AM CDT

September 2025                                                                                                                                          View this email in your browser
DuPage County Currents

Elmhurst Quarry Flood Control Facility Improvements Complete

west lobe pumps craned in

The contractor uses a 50-ton crane to set each pump into its location at the West Lobe wet well within the Elmhurst Quarry. These pumps are used to dewater stormwater held in the facility once storm events have passed.

The County's contractor finished up improvements last week at the West Lobe of the Elmhurst Quarry Flood Control Facility. A total of three new pumps and an updated motor control center have been installed. This $2.7 million project provided critical upgrades to the west lobe, which was still using the original pumps and controls from when the facility was constructed in the early 90s! The Quarry, which coincidentally holds up to 2.7 billion gallons of floodwater, is an important flood control component for communities all along the Salt Creek watershed. SWM opens the facility up for public tours every other year, so keep an eye out for details on the 2026 tours!

Help Protect Water Quality by Becoming a Winter Chloride Watcher!

wcw

The Winter Chloride Watchers test kit makes it easy to monitor local waterways for excess chlorides.

Building on the success of the last two years, The Conservation Foundation is seeking more volunteers to help protect the County's waterways. Winter Chloride Watchers is a program started by Illinois RiverWatch to support research on a rapidly growing wintertime pollutant: chlorides from road salt.

Volunteer Winter Chloride Watchers will learn the basics of chloride monitoring and take part in intermittent water testing at a local river or stream. The time commitment is minimal: attend a training, monitor a waterway of your choosing once a month from November through May, and fill out monthly reporting on a website. That’s it! With this data, our communities will gain a clearer picture of how chlorides affect aquatic life and how Salt Smart winter practices can reduce the amount of chlorides that reach waterways. Visit the link below for more details and to register for an upcoming training. DuPage County activities sponsored by DuPage Stormwater Management.

More Info

SWM Offering Intro FEQ Class in Partnership with IAFSM

Registration is open for an introductory course in the FEQ (Full EQuations) unsteady flow hydraulic model, hosted by SWM and Illinois Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management (IAFSM). The three-day class with cover software basics and beginners tips for FEQ and FEQUTL. The course will provide 16.5 PDH hours for the Illinois P.E. license, as well as 12 CEC's for CFM renewal.The class will take place from October 28-30 at the DuPage County Office of Emergency Management within the County complex in Wheaton. Registration will fill on a first-come, first-served basis at a cost of $150/person. Find more info and registration details at the link below.

Register Here

Around Town

Another summer passed, another season jam-packed with outreach events under our belt! SWM is grateful to all of our partners who invited us to table at events across the County. We try to take every opportunity to teach the public about what we do and what you can do to improve water quality in your area. Special thanks to the State Senators and Representatives that invited us to events in their districts, including Senators John Curran, Laura Ellman and Seth Lewis, and Representatives Amy Grant, Nicole La Ha, Janet Rohr and Jennifer Sanalitro. Catch us at an event in your neighborhood next year!

swm

Sen. John Curran (former SWM Committee Member) visits staff at the Children's Safety Expo in Darien.

Upcoming Events

Parking Lots & Sidewalks Deicing Workshops

Various dates, check link below for details

The DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup is partnering with multiple organizations to host virtual and in-person winter deicing workshops for public agencies. The purpose of the workshops is to educate attendees on alternatives to traditional salting practices and methods that may reduce the presence of chloride in waterways, while keeping parking lots and sidewalks safe. Registration is $35 for in-person and $85 for virtual attendance, and attendance is only necessary at one of the two workshops.

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Public Roads Deicing Virtual Workshop

Various dates, check link below for details

The DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup is partnering with multiple organizations to host virtual and in-person winter deicing workshops for public agencies. The purpose of the workshops is to educate attendees on alternatives to traditional salting practices and methods that may reduce the presence of chloride in waterways, while keeping roads safe. Registration is $35 for in-person attendance and $85 for virtual, and attendance is only necessary at one of the six workshops.

More Info

Winter Chloride Watchers Training in Hinsdale

Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 6:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.

Join the Conservation Foundation at Hinsdale Public Library to learn how to be a Winter Chloride Watcher! The program is a once-a-month commitment through the winter to testing a local waterway for chlorides, and reporting your results. This training session will teach you everything you need to know to make your work as easy as possible. Click the link below to register!

More Info