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Stormwater analysis suggests Harris Drive drainage issue may require purchase and relocation of homes
Summary
County staff reported an updated engineering analysis indicating groundwater and runoff problems on Harris Drive likely affect 8–9 homes; recommended remedies exceed the stormwater committee’s budget and may require home acquisitions and grant funding with local matches.
Will County staff updated the Land Use Committee on a persistent stormwater and septic problem on Harris Drive near Joliet, reporting that a recent engineering update by Baxter & Woodman indicates groundwater and runoff conditions likely mean about 8–9 homes would need to be purchased and residents relocated to resolve the problem.
Staff said the street’s older development pattern (homes built at or near grade in the 1970s), high groundwater and proximity to the DuPage River exacerbate septic and basement backup problems. The updated field analysis included surveying and conversations with homeowners and the highway commissioner; staff characterized the engineering work as “near complete.”
According to staff, minor drainage improvements — regrading ditches or adding tile — are unlikely to fix the underlying groundwater issue. The recommended remedy would involve acquiring affected properties, demolishing structures and transferring parcels to a public entity (for example, a park district) to manage the land — an approach staff said would cost “in the millions of dollars,” placing it well beyond the stormwater committee’s budget.
Staff described current efforts to evaluate competitive grant opportunities that may require local matching funds and indicated the timeline would be long. They also said the county has looked at similar long‑running projects and that buying out repeatedly flooded properties can take many years to finance and execute.
Committee members asked whether homeowners had been consulted; staff said several residents had participated in the update and appeared receptive to solutions, although county staff had not had a face‑to‑face conversation with every owner. Staff suggested the county could invite Baxter & Woodman to present more detailed findings to the committee if members want a deeper briefing.
Next steps: staff will continue identifying grant opportunities and may bring the consultant back for a fuller presentation; no immediate funding decision was made during the committee meeting.
