The first phase of a $96 million flood prevention program is set to begin Wednesday in Cicero, with the installation of a check valve in the front yard of a homeowner. Work will begin this week at the Huerta family home, on the 3500 block of S. Austin Blvd. Check valves allow wastewater to leave your home to the sewer system, but a flap prevents storm water from coming into the home if sewers are overflowing. This link provides a quick explanation of how a check valve helps prevent water from coming into a basement. Fernandez Sewer, of Chicago, will be digging a small trench in the yard on Wednesday morning, then installing the check valve and connecting it to pipes in the home.

Installation of a check valve at a home usually costs thousands of dollars, but this program provides installation and one year of maintenance free to qualified residents. The Basement Flood Prevention Program launched in June, with the opening of an intake center at the Cicero Community Center. There, residents meet with intake specialists, who process applications and guide them on the paperwork needed for the federally funded program. A full list of requirements and documents can be found at www.thetownofcicero.com/flood-prevention. Additional grant funds will be spent on stormwater infrastructure upgrades, sewer repairs, permeable alleys and other investments aimed at providing long-term flood prevention and recovery work.