In 1926, developer John Mills built 1,679 brick bungalows around Circle Parkway's five-acre circle and French fountain — billed then as the largest single-family development ever undertaken by one developer. Those brick bungalows, many with full basements and finished living space, still define Elmwood Park — built over a combined sewer system in a village bounded by the Des Plaines River to the west.
The village's Flood Mitigation Plan, presented in March 2016, documented three flooding problems: street flooding in the Westwood Subdivision, overbank flooding at the Oak Park Country Club, and Des Plaines River overbank flooding affecting homes in the river's 100-year floodplain. The fix was enormous — roughly $31 million of new storm sewer, a 14 acre-foot basin and 150 cfs pump station at the country club, and 1,900 linear feet of floodwall along Thatcher Avenue; a Letter of Map Revision took some 50 homes out of the 100-year floodplain. But older clay laterals and combined-era connections still carry backup risk in intense storms — and in late September 2026, the Des Plaines River at Russell, upstream in Lake County, hit moderate flood stage at 9.3–9.5 feet. Call (773) 200-3228 now; Rapid Water Damage Restoration Illinois answers 24/7.
Areas We Serve in Elmwood Park
We serve all of Elmwood Park in ZIP 60707, with priority response for the Westwood Subdivision and homes along Thatcher Avenue near the Des Plaines River. Our crews run from Circle Parkway and the Oak Park Country Club to the Metra Milwaukee District line crossing, reaching bungalow blocks bordering River Forest, Oak Park, Chicago, River Grove, and Melrose Park.
Common Causes of Water Damage in Elmwood Park
- Combined-sewer backups during intense storms. Elmwood Park historically ran a combined sewer system; even after the separation project, older clay laterals and combined-era connections can push sewage back into basements when storms overwhelm the lines.
- Des Plaines River overbank flooding. The river bounds the village to the west, and homes that sat in the 100-year floodplain before the Letter of Map Revision remain near a river that reached moderate flood stage upstream in late September 2026.
- Golf Course Tributary drainage. This tributary drains through the village, tied to the documented overbank flooding at the Oak Park Country Club.
- Street flooding in Westwood. The 1926 Westwood Development's streets were a documented chronic-flooding zone — the reason 24,000 linear feet of new storm sewer went in there.
- Freeze risk in 1920s–1950s masonry stock. Original water services and unheated crawl or basement utility areas in the village's bungalow stock are the classic freeze-vulnerable profile during polar-vortex winters.
How We Restore Water-Damaged Homes in Elmwood Park
- Your call, any hour — (773) 200-3228. We answer around the clock and dispatch fast, prioritizing sewage backups and standing water.
- Source and hazard identification. We determine whether it's sewer backup, river or tributary overbank, street flooding, or a burst service line — the cleanup plan follows the water's category.
- Extraction and containment. Standing water is removed with high-capacity equipment; sewage events get full containment, protective gear, and disinfection.
- Moisture mapping of masonry and finished basements. Brick walls and finished basements hide moisture; we map it with meters and dry with monitored dehumidification.
- Cleaning, sanitizing, and mold prevention. Affected surfaces are cleaned and disinfected; unsalvageable contaminated materials are removed safely.
- Rebuild and documentation. Finishes are restored to pre-loss condition, and we photograph and log everything for your insurer.
Our Elmwood Park Water Damage Services
Water extraction
Fast pumping for flooded full-basement bungalows — speed limits the damage to flooring, drywall, and contents.
Structural drying
Monitored drying for masonry construction, plaster, and hardwood, verified with moisture meters.
Mold remediation
Damp finished basements grow mold behind drywall and under flooring. We contain, remove, and treat to IICRC standards.
Sewage cleanup
Extraction, sanitization, safe disposal of contaminated porous materials, and disinfection after combined-sewer or lateral backups.
Storm damage repair
Repairs for overbank, runoff, and wind-driven damage, rebuilt to pre-loss condition.
Cost Factors & Insurance Claim Help
No flat quotes — every Elmwood Park loss is scoped on water category (clean supply water versus sewage or floodwater), square footage and materials affected, how long they stayed wet, and whether a finished basement raises the value at risk. Many losses here turn on the sewer-backup endorsement in your policy, and we review your coverage with you before work begins. We document with photos and moisture logs and work directly with your insurance company from the first call to the final walkthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Elmwood Park's $31 million flood project?
The village's 2016 plan built the fix: over 24,000 linear feet of new storm sewer in Westwood with the old combined line repurposed as sanitary-only, a 14 acre-foot basin with a 150 cfs pump station at the Oak Park Country Club, and 1,900 feet of floodwall along Thatcher Avenue — funded by municipal bonds, IEPA loans, $5.1 million from MWRD, and $1.7 million from IDOT.
How does the Thatcher Avenue floodwall protect my home?
The 1,900-foot Thatcher Avenue floodwall was approved by FEMA with 2 feet of freeboard rather than the standard 3, and the resulting Letter of Map Revision removed about 50 homes from the 100-year floodplain. If your home was among them, your floodplain status changed; your backup and stormwater exposure did not vanish.
What is a combined sewer, and why does separating it matter?
A combined sewer carries sewage and stormwater in one pipe — so in a big storm it can surcharge and push sewage into basements. Elmwood Park's project separated the two: new storm sewers, old line converted to sanitary-only. If your home still has a combined-era lateral, backups remain possible in extreme events.
My bungalow has a finished basement — why does that raise the stakes?
Finished basement living space is common in Elmwood Park's bungalows — so a flood ruins drywall, flooring, furniture, and belongings, not just concrete, multiplying the cost of every inch of water. It also hides moisture behind finished walls, which is why professional moisture mapping matters here.
What is the Golf Course Tributary, and why should I care?
It's the waterway draining through the village tied to the documented overbank flooding at the Oak Park Country Club — one of the three flooding problems the village's 2016 plan set out to fix, addressed in part by the new storage basin and pump station at the club's southeast corner.
The Des Plaines River flooded upstream recently — should I worry?
In late September 2026, the Des Plaines River at Russell in Lake County reached moderate flood stage of 9.3–9.5 feet, with residential structures threatened along Russell Road. That's upstream of Elmwood Park, but river systems move water downstream — when the river runs high north of the village, conditions along the village's western edge deserve attention during extended rain.
Elmwood Park Water Emergency? Call (773) 200-3228
Sewer backup, river flooding, or storm water in your bungalow's basement — Rapid Water Damage Restoration Illinois responds 24/7 in Elmwood Park. Call (773) 200-3228 now.
Rapid Water Damage Restoration Illinois is a locally owned Illinois water damage restoration company, available 24/7 for emergencies. Our IICRC-trained technicians handle water extraction, structural drying, mold remediation, and sewage cleanup — and we work directly with your insurance company from first call to final walkthrough. Call (773) 200-3228 anytime, day or night.
Water Damage in Elmwood Park? We Respond 24/7
Every minute counts. Rapid Water Damage Restoration Illinois dispatches certified technicians across Elmwood Park day and night — with insurance documentation handled for you.
Call (773) 200-3228 NowWater Damage Restoration Services in Elmwood Park
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Nearby Areas We Serve Around Elmwood Park
Helpful Water Damage Guides
- Sewage Backup Cleanup: Health Risks & Pro Help
- What to Do When Your Basement Floods: A Step-by-Step Emergency Guide
Official resources: FEMA FloodSmart (flood insurance) and EPA guide to mold and moisture.