Water Damage Restoration in Stickney, IL
Stickney sits just south of Cicero, on low ground that was once part of Mud Lake. When storm water fills basements here, call and we will pump out, clean up and dry.
- Water removal and drying
- Sewer backup cleanup
- Photos and moisture logs for insurance
Before help arrives
Then call. We will take it from there.
- 1Shut off the main water valve if the leak is from plumbing.
- 2Turn off power to wet rooms, only if you can reach the breaker without standing in water.
- 3Photograph the damage before you move anything.
- 4Move valuables and electronics to a dry room.
Why do Stickney basements flood?
Stickney is low and flat, and in intense storms the local and regional sewers fill faster than they can drain. Water then backs up through basement floor drains or runs in from the street. On July 2, 2023, the heaviest rain in the Chicago area fell on Cicero and Berwyn, right next door.
Last updated .
Why Stickney homes take on water
Stickney is a small village of about 7,100 people. Much of its housing went up after World War II on what had been open land at the edge of Mud Lake, a marsh that slowly drained after the Illinois and Michigan Canal was built.
Low, flat ground
That old marsh ground is still low and flat. In a cloudburst, water has few places to go, and when the sewers are full it backs up into basements and ponds in streets and yards.
Next to the world's largest wastewater plant
The MWRD's Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, the largest wastewater treatment plant in the world, sits just south of Pershing Road. Cicero's entire sewer system drains to it. In the July 2023 storm the plant ran at full capacity, and the Deep Tunnel and McCook Reservoir filled. When the regional system is full, local sewers cannot drain, and basements across the area back up.
Basements and finished spaces
Where homes have basements used for laundry, storage or a family room, a sewer backup turns them into a contaminated cleanup: carpet, drywall and anything stored on the floor usually has to go.
Where we work in Stickney
Crews cover all of Stickney, including:
- Central Stickney
- Harlem Avenue
- Pershing Road
- Near Hawthorne Race Course
- Near Forest View
- Near the Stickney plant
Travel time
Just south of Cicero, usually 5 to 10 minutes. Call for a realistic arrival time.
Call now: (708) 360-8574Most requested in Stickney
Flooded basement cleanup in Stickney
For storm water and backups in post-war basements.
Stickney sewer backup cleanup
For water that comes up through floor drains in heavy rain.
Emergency water removal in Stickney
For standing water that needs to come out today.
See every water damage service we offer in Stickney.
Water damage questions from Stickney
Was Stickney affected by the July 2023 flood?
The storm centered on Cicero and Berwyn, right next door, where 8 to 9 inches of rain fell. After the federal disaster declaration on August 15, 2023, Cook County residents could apply for FEMA assistance.
Does the treatment plant cause flooding?
The plant itself does not flood homes. But when the regional sewer system and storage are full in an extreme storm, local sewers have nowhere to drain, which is when basements back up.
What should I do while the street is still flooded?
Stop using water in the house, stay out of the basement if the power is on and the water is deep, and photograph everything. Pumping usually has to wait until the sewer drains.
How fast can someone reach Stickney?
Stickney borders Cicero to the south, so it is a short trip. Call and ask for a realistic arrival time.
Also serving nearby
Sources
- MWRD: The world’s largest wastewater treatment plant is in Stickney, Ill.
- Town of Cicero: CDBG-DR Action Plan (draft, July 2025)
- Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago: Flood Resource Guide
General information only, not insurance or legal advice.
Water damage in Stickney? Call now.
Shut off the water if you can do it safely, keep away from wet outlets, and call. We will talk you through the next few minutes and get help moving.