Homeowners Can Take Simple Steps to Reduce Flooding Risk

From redirecting downspouts to adding rain gardens, Chicago residents have affordable options to protect their homes and neighborhoods.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:35am

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and green, depicting a flooded urban neighborhood with buildings and streets submerged under swirling, turbulent floodwaters, conveying the overwhelming power of a severe storm.As intense storms fueled by climate change overwhelm Chicago's aging sewer system, homeowners are taking steps to protect their properties and neighborhoods from the growing threat of flooding.Chicago Today

As intense storms fueled by climate change increase the risk of flooding in Chicago, homeowners can take several easy and inexpensive measures to reduce the chances of their basements getting inundated with raw sewage. Experts recommend redirecting downspouts, installing rain barrels, replacing hard surfaces with permeable materials, and creating rain gardens with native plants to absorb excess water.

Why it matters

Flooding is an escalating threat to homes in the Chicago area, with storms now capable of dumping over 8.5 inches of rain in a 24-hour period - far exceeding the 2-inch capacity of the city's aging sewer system. Simple steps by individual homeowners can help mitigate this growing problem and protect their properties, while also reducing the strain on the broader stormwater infrastructure.

The details

The main recommendations from conservation, environmental, and government groups include: redirecting downspouts that pour water directly into sewers; installing rain barrels to capture runoff; replacing hard surfaces like concrete with permeable pavers or bricks; and creating rain gardens with native plants that can absorb excess water. Homeowners can also help by conserving water usage during heavy storms to avoid further overburdening the sewer system.

  • Intense storms that can drop over 8.5 inches of rain in 24 hours are happening more frequently in the Chicago area.
  • State researchers predict the city's sewer system, currently able to handle just 2 inches of rain, could see that capacity increase by another inch by 2050.

The players

Center for Neighborhood Technology

A non-profit organization that has spent years working on flood mitigation efforts in Chicago.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

The government body that manages stormwater and wastewater in the Chicago region, offering subsidized rain barrels to residents.

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What they’re saying

“Downspouts directly connect water from roofs to the sewer system, so during heavy rains the rain from all the roofs in an area reduces capacity in the sewer system, and that can contribute to sewer backup and flooding in basements.”

— Cyatharine Alias, Urban Resilience Director

What’s next

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago offers rain barrels to residents at discounted prices, starting at $22.30 per barrel or $11.15 for those 65 and older.

The takeaway

With affordable and easy-to-implement solutions like redirecting downspouts, installing rain barrels, and creating rain gardens, Chicago homeowners can take proactive steps to protect their properties and neighborhoods from the growing threat of flooding caused by climate change-fueled intense storms.