University Park gets annual NPDES stormwater briefing; residents press for creek cleanup after past nitrate event

Susan Kwasny, who is assisting the village on NPDES updates and stormwater management, delivered the Village of University Park’s annual MS4 presentation and reviewed the permit’s six required minimum control measures, telling trustees the program’s goal is to keep pollutants out of local waterways.

Why it matters: The presentation outlines statutory compliance steps the village must take under the Clean Water Act and the Illinois EPA permit, and residents said better local upkeep could reduce flooding, health risks and maintenance costs.

Kwasny summarized the program’s history and purpose, noting the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System began under the Clean Water Act and that the Phase 2 MS4 rules (2003) require smaller municipalities in urbanized areas to manage stormwater. She said the MS4 requirements break down into six control areas: (1) public outreach and education; (2) public involvement and participation; (3) illicit-discharge detection and elimination; (4) construction-site runoff controls; (5) post-construction runoff controls; and (6) pollution prevention and good housekeeping for public works. She told the board University Park was recently audited by the Illinois EPA and received a new permit in 2025.

During Q&A, Trustee Brooks and several residents urged more active creek and canal cleanup, citing Deer Creek and a canal near Blackhawk as examples of waterways that have become overgrown and clogged. "If we can beautify it even more…that would benefit somewhat," Trustee Brooks said, urging native plantings and targeted cleanup. A resident recalled a prior fertilizer or nitrate incident that prompted a "do not consume" advisory and distribution of bottled water; Kwasny said follow-up, cleanup and coordination with the IEPA are important and that a stormwater management plan with Director Russell will be a first step in addressing local risks.

Manager Elizabeth Scott said the village has contracted with Homewood Disposal for a street-sweeping schedule and that the administration will provide the board with a schedule so residents can be notified in advance. Kwasny explained that smaller MS4 communities typically rely on visual inspections to detect obvious pollutants (color, odor, floatables) while larger jurisdictions sometimes conduct chemical testing; the annual permit report documents activities across each control measure.

What’s next: Staff said they will work with the new public-works director to produce a stormwater-management plan and provide the board with the Homewood street-sweep schedule. Residents who raised specific block-level concerns were told staff would follow up.