What can homeowners do to reduce flooding?

Blamed in part on climate change, intense storms are happening more frequently and dumping more rain, increasing the risk of flooding.

These storms can drop more than 8.5 inches of rain in 24 hours, flooding basements and causing billions of dollars in damage. Chicago’s sewers can handle just 2 inches before a flood becomes likely. State researchers predict that could increase by another inch by 2050.

Chicago sewers contain stormwater and wastewater, anything that you flush down your toilets or sinks at home. When rain falls fast and hard, some homes get that raw sewage gurgling up through basement drains.

But there are simple things we can all do to reduce flooding around our homes, neighborhoods and even across the city.

Redirect the downspout

The No. 1 recommendation from conservation, environmental and government sources is to redirect the downspout that pours water from your home’s rooftop gutters directly into the sewer. The idea is to cut the end off, add an extension and send that water to a garden or other landscaping

“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, says Cyatharine Alias, urban resilience director at Center for Neighborhood Technology.

It’s a relatively cheap and easy fix.

If you do it yourself, use a hacksaw or another cutting tool to shorten the downspout. Then attach an extension, which is widely sold at hardware and big box home improvement stores. YouTube and TikTok how-to videos can provide guidance.

Of course, be careful to not point the water toward your neighbor’s property.

Rain barrels

Another way to prevent rainwater from seeping into your home is to use a rain barrel, a container that can fit under a gutter downspout. The 50 or more gallons of water captured can be used for irrigation. You can purchase a rain barrel from a number of hardware or garden stores.

Or, if you live in Cook County, you can buy directly from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, the government body that manages stormwater and wastewater. The price per barrel is $22.30 or $11.15 for those 65 and older, according to the district.

Mohammad Samra/Sun-Times

Replace hard surfaces

Reducing the amount of hard surfaces, including concrete, around your property is another way to reduce the chance of basement flooding.

That water has to go somewhere, as the old saying goes. Pick water-absorbent surfaces like pavers or bricks with spaces between for backyard patios and walkways.

Consider a “rain garden” or other native landscaping

Go green, really green. Introduce native plants, such as a black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower or rye grass, in your backyard that can drink up the excess water. Make sure the landscaping is allowing water to flow away from your home as well as your neighbor’s.

Adding a rain garden full of native plants can help make your garden more beautiful while also absorbing the excess water and reducing the risk of flooding. Read more about how to create a rain garden here:

Of course, clear your gutters and make sure street sewer grates around your property aren’t blocked with leaves or other debris.

Mohammad Samra/Sun-Times

Conserve water during storms

Friends of the Chicago River and others suggest conserving water on storm days.

If you can avoid doing laundry or a lot of dishes when the rain is pounding down, it can save more space in the outdated sewers.

The reason we flood in Chicago is because the old sewer system is designed to catch 2 inches of rain in a 24-hour period.

Just three years ago, the Chicago area was getting four times that rain in 24-hours.

Here are more tips from the Center for Neighborhood Technology, which has spent a lot of effort over the years on flood mitigation:

This article was produced as a project for USC Annenberg’s Center for Health Journalism and Center for Climate Journalism and Communication 2025 Health and Climate Change Reporting Fellowship.