Glen Ellyn issues boil order as residents recover from flooding

GLEN ELLYN, Ill. (WLS) -- Monday's severe weather caused storm damage for many suburban residents - but even on a sunny day, water remains a problem in Glen Ellyn.

A portion of Route 53 near the Morton Arboretum in unincorporated Glen Ellyn was closed Tuesday, as the fast rain may have been the cause of a water main break under the east branch of the Dupage River.

Though officials say the break is isolated and that there is no risk of more river water entering the main, a water boil order was issued for nearby residents.

"Just as a precautionary measure, we issued a boil order. It states boil water for five minutes or longer to drink it," said Julius Hansen, Glen Ellyn director of Public Works.

The order will remain in effect until Wednesday at the earliest, village officials said.

The main break comes as some residents deal with extensive flood damage.

Suited up and ready to go, a SERVPRO clean-up and restoration crew is beginning to attack Rob Konzelman's basement. The Glen Ellyn resident says Monday's rain caused between 2-3 inches of sewage to back up in his home.

"We moved into the house in February. We were told the basement never flooded in the 25 years the house has been here. Now we have a huge mess to clean up," Konzelman said.

Because it was sewage, it's a mess that SERVPRO says will take three 24-hour periods to clean up.

"Any porous material carpet, carpet pad has to be removed and thrown in garbage," said Michael Grace, SERVPRO.

Raining about an inch an hour, Konzelman took video of the water getting higher and higher in his back yard as water was also shooting out of the sewer; all after a village employee came to check on it hours before the rain began.

"We actually had Glen Ellyn come out here about noon yesterday and they took a look at the sewer line here, said it was working properly," Konzelman said. "A few hours later it was shooting water up out of it and flooding this back area and all of our neighbors' yards as well."

Village officials say with 3.8 inches of rain in just a short period of time, the system will back up in low lying areas.