Focus — Stormwater Management
Stormwater Management for Residential Clients: An Interview with Vallari Talapatra Nina Koziol
Flash flooding on May 14th this year was report-
ed throughout northern Illinois, according to the National Weather Service. Four inches of rain in Chicago set a new record as multiple storm systems moved through the area. Elsewhere in the state, creeks and rivers overflowed onto roadways. The state climatologist’s office reported that May was wetter than the 30-year normal and the 25th wettest May on record. It wasn’t a surprise to Landscape Architect Vallari Talapatra of Eco Scapes in Wheaton. “It’s not a new concern, but a rapidly growing one,” Talapatra said. “Every year we seem to hit a new record for rainfall. That, coupled with more hardscape, larger patios, bigger garages and larger homes, increases the run-off amount and that’s what’s leading to a huge storm-water management problem in residential properties.”
Talapatra’s presentation on Stormwater Management at iLandscape this year was filled to overflow capacity. “I’ve been doing landscape design for 24 years now. In the first decade, water runoff was not an issue. During the second decade, there were a few problems and now I’m seeing problems that I’ve never seen before.” We talked to her recently to find out more about what landscape designers and contractors can do to help mitigate the problem.
With the record May rainfalls, what type of problems have you seen?
Almost every phone call this year involved a need to manage water runoff. Landscaping has become secondary to fixing drainage issues. Many of my clients are in DuPage County since I’m based out of Wheaton and teach at the Arboretum, but I have north shore clients as well. (continued on page 22)
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The Landscape Contractor July 2020
