Rain, rain and more rain.

That has been the weather story for the past several days. National Weather Service observers are reporting that as of 10 a.m. Monday, May 7, Elmhurst had received more than an inch of rain over the past 24 hours and 2.5 inches in the first week of May.

That's not surprising in spring, but the prospect of extended rainy periods or severe downpours likely makes some Elmhurst residents nervous since many experienced major damage to their homes during severe flooding in 2010.

Elmhurst Public Works Director Michael Hughes last week released a memorandum that states the city has made "significant progress" in creating a stormwater management plan, and it has completed several projects to reduce impacts from heavy rain.

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Following is a list of completed projects and their costs, as released by the Public Works Department:

Storm Water Related Items

• Kenmore Storm Sewer Improvements: Inlets were added at the low point on Kenmore Avenue to assist with the collection of stormwater. Total project $14,265.
• Parker Street Relief Storm Sewer: A storm sewer was installed in Parker Street to help alleviate flooding conditions at the intersection of Geneva and Belden. The new storm sewer functions as a relief overflow during heavy rain events. Total project $21,844.
• Spring Road Storm Sewer Improvements: Additional inlets were added at the low point of Spring Road between McKinley and Crescent. The additional inlets assist with the collection of stormwater and minimize water on the roadway. This work was completed in the Spring Road roadway improvement project.
• Levee Certification: As part of the levee certification process, the Elmhurst levee was carefully inspected and repairs were made to deficiencies identified. Application for certification is pending with FEMA. Total project $615,000.
• Full rear-yard drain program completed every year. Rear yard drains help alleviate nuisance flooding on private properties.
• The city has completed several improvements to reduce street flooding on Pine Street. High capacity inlets were installed and open grates were added to some storm sewer manholes to improve drainage during rain events.
• High capacity inlets were installed on Cottage Hill south of St. Charles to increase the amount of water entering the storm sewer system instead of sheet flowing to the intersection of Cottage Hill and Seminole. Church windows were cut of inlets at the intersection.
• Church windows were removed from all inlets in problem areas (Parkside, Pine, Washington, etc.).
• A list was created for advance street sweeping in problem areas before predicted storms to reduce the amount of debris clogging inlets.
• City Council increased participation in the overhead sewer program and the budget.
• The city contracted with Allied Waste to provide storm damage cleanup and neighborhood dumpster collection locations.
• Inspected, repaired 128 flap gates and outfalls for the annual program.

Sanitary Sewer Related Items

• Sanitary Lining Project: Contractually lined more than 20,000 feet of sanitary sewers in basin 15. Project amount $950,000.
• City crews root cut, cleaned and flushed 46,968 and televised 55,061 feet of sanitary sewers in basins 23, 24 and 26 (south side).
• Sanitary Lining project: Contractually lined 26,000 feet of sanitary sewers in basins 23, 24 and 26. Project amount $950,000.
• A light was installed on the lift station of Saylor and Jackson to indicate when the pumps are running. WWTP staff stays after hours if storms are predicted to monitor pumping stations.
• City crews found and completed a point repair on the sanitary sewer on Cambridge.
• City crews found and completed three point repairs on the Washington Street sanitary sewer.
• City crews found completed a point repair on Olive sanitary sewer that was collapsed.
• City crews are currently repairing storm and sanitary sewers that were identified during the smoke testing performed by RJN Group. City crews have completed 36 of those repairs thus far.
• City crews found and completed two point repairs on the Parkside sanitary sewer.
• City crews found and rerouted water main that was going through a storm sewer manhole at Pine and First Street.
• City crews cleaned and televised the storm and sanitary sewers on Webster. Residents had concerns that there was a problem with the sewers in this area.
• City crews root cut, cleaned and flushed 72,913 and televised 77,282 feet of sanitary sewers in basins 20 and 22 (south side).
• Sanitary Sewer cleaning: Pipeview completed a multi-year sewer cleaning contract. In 2010-11 they cleaned 11,000 feet of 24-inch and larger sanitary sewer in various location in the city.
• Phase l-lndiana Street: Relief Sanitary Sewer: A relief sanitary sewer line was installed on Indiana Street to reduce sanitary sewer overflows in residential yards and basements. Project $130,000.
• Phase II- Indiana Street: Relief Sanitary Sewer (2012-13 budget): This project is to remove an under-sized section in the sanitary sewer. The project will replace about 680 feet of new 10-inch sanitary on Indiana Street. Budget for project $175,000.
• Sanitary Sewer Lining project (2012-13 budget): Contractually line 15,000-25,000 feet of sanitary sewers in basin 22. Project amount $950,000.
• Atrium Sanitary Force Main Replacement Project: The project includes engineering, design, construction and replacing about 1,400 feet of 8-inch force main in Eldridge Park. Project amount $825,000.
• Saylor Force Main Replacement Project: Engineering, design, construction and replacement of 2,850 feet of sanitary sewer force main on Saylor from Jackson to McKinley. Project amount $920,000.

The mayor's Stormwater Task Force has been meeting consistently to review the findings presented by Christopher Burke Engineering and RJN Engineers. Task Force subcommittees are compiling their reports and are expected to submit their reports to the City Council by the end of May.