Village takes aim at private connections
with point-of-sale drainage inspections
Oak Lawn residents selling their homes will need to make sure their storm drainage system is routed to the correct places come April 1.
All residential and business properties in town will become subject to point-of-sale sewer inspections under new village regulations, outlined during two public hearings last week.
The inspections, to be conducted by the public works staff, will include checks of downspouts, clean outs, sump pumps and laterals. Following the inspection, residents will either get a certification of compliance or a correction notice for any issues discovered.
“It’s a pretty routine inspection process,” said Doug Youngblood, of CDM Smith, the consulting group working with the village to address infiltration and inflow, when rainwater and groundwater enter the public and private sanitary sewer system.
Youngblood said those problems occur in every U.S. city as pipes degrade over the course of decades. They can cause sanitary sewer system backups, pipe deterioration and increased use at the treatment plan. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District requires correction of those issues.
Oak Lawn’s ordinance, passed in May and amended this month, is designed to target issues such as sump pump connections that discharge water into the sewer systems rather than outside of the home. Stormwater can also enter the system through window wells, driveway drains and roof downspouts connected to the system.
“The mission here, the goal here, is to look for these sources where groundwater, rainwater gets into the sewer system and eliminate them,” Youngblood said. ”The village needs to look at what they can do to reduce I&I from (the private) sector.”
The inspections will cost $100, but if work needs to be done to be in compliance that money would go toward the resident’s share in a 50/50 cost share program. Oak Lawn introduced the share program last year to facilitate sewer projects on private property that are also beneficial to the village. If residents think a project is applicable to inflow and infiltration reduction, they can contact the village about a possible cost share.
Youngblood said sewer backups in the basement might be worth such a call.
“The village has some money set aside to share the cost of whatever repair you might do,” Youngblood said.
Youngblood said the village “isn’t going to hold up a real estate transfer” over issues found during these inspections as long as they are scheduled 30 days in advance, but said the results are tied to the real estate transfer stamp. Sewers that are not in compliance are to be documented, and corrections still must be made after the sale is complete.
All owners planning to transfer property must get the sewer inspection beginning April 1. The village asked those selling property to contact officials at least 30 days before closing to schedule that inspection. Those looking to sell something April 1 should call by March 1.
Youngblood said the village “isn’t going to hold up a real estate transfer” over issues found during these inspections as long as they are scheduled 30 days in advance, but said the results are tied to the real estate transfer stamp. Sewers that are not in compliance are to be documented, and corrections still must be made after the sale is complete.
Bill Meyer, assistant director of public works, said the village’s plumbing inspector will handle the work. The fee is designed to pay the inspector and clerical staff, Meyer said. He also confirmed commercial property sales are subject to the same inspection requirement.
Residents in need of an inspection may call Oak Lawn Public Works at 708-499-7748. For more information, go to
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