Due to heavy amounts of falling leafs, the village is asking residents to help keep sewers clear after several streets had drainage problems from last week’s rainfall.

The Woodridge Public Works Department sent out an e-mail alert to residents  Oct. 30 after steady rains left standing water on some streets.

According to the press release, The village is inviting residents to assist this effort to clear away debris from the sewer grates to help ensure that the storm water continues to drain from the streets.

Tony Fowler, superintendent of operation for the village’s Public Works Department, said crews are out working to free up these clogged grates, and street sweepers are moving through in an effort to try to keep these grates clean.

He said the mixture of heavy leaves and rain is something that the department has to deal with each fall.

“What happens is that the leaves fall faster because of the rain on them, and they often run right to those grates, which are at the lowest spots on the streets,” Fowler said. “This prevents water from draining properly.”

One of the first things people should do before assisting in clearing the drains is to let the public works or police know, especially if there is puddling or flooding water on streets, even if it’s after hours.

“Residents can call and leave a message here, or the Police Department non-emergency number,” Fowler said. “We will get someone out there, but we do have limited resources, so it may take a little time.”

One area that was hit with standing water was near the intersection of Carlton and Concord drives.

Resident Brenda Grecco, who lives along the 2400 block of Carlton Drive, said she the flooding issues on her street resulted in her driveway being covered in water as a result of the sewers being blocked.

“The problem is the village needs to inform residents that they cannot be raking leaves in to the street,” Grecco said. “The problem isn’t with the crews. I believe it is in letting the residents know about this drainage issue.”

She said crews were out there within an hour or two.

Fowler said traditionally the areas that usually have the biggest problem are those streets in the older sections of the village, where the biggest and oldest trees are.

“The area between 75th and 83rd streets are areas that we see this every fall,” Fowler said. “Any help we can get from residents on this is appreciated.”