In the 1800s, farmers dug man-made ditches for the sole purpose of turning unproductive swampland into lush, fertile farm ground. The same valuable farmland generations of agriculture producers have farmed to earn a living and feed the world.

These man-made ditches today serve the same purpose of draining storm runoff as they have for centuries. The only difference is some ditches drain acres of farmland and others drain miles of concrete.

Our ancestors understood that drainage is an essential utility. In 1879, two laws were passed to give landowners a means of securing proper drainage. These laws established drainage districts based on a system of assessments that permitted the districts to include only lands benefited. This principle remained untouched in 1956 when the Illinois Drainage Code was passed by legislatures. The Illinois Drainage Code still informs and governs the drainage districts today.

Approximately, 1, 700 Drainage Districts have been organized in Illinois.