MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. (CBS) — Some flood-prone residents of Mount Prospect are demanding the village do something about the problem.

As WBBM Newsradio 780′s Mike Krauser reports, they talked about a purported “secret valve” that makes the water drain at a public meeting last night.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780′s Mike Krauser reports

For Fran Zalewski, this is the second time in three years that water rose in the street, then up the lawn, and then filled the basement with several feet of sewage.

Last time, she says, the village told her nothing could be done.

But then something was.

“We were amazed the speed at which it went down. It just disappeared,” she said, “and a public works truck was coming down the street and I ran out to them and I said, ‘Excuse me, where did all the water go so fast?’ and he told me the EPA had given them approval to open up some storm gates.”

This time, the same thing happened. Again, Zalewski says, the village said it couldn’t do anything. And again, after the flooding, the water went down, just as quickly as the first time it happened three years ago.

The village says there is no secret valve.

“If we did, why would close it and flood our own residents?” said assistant village manager Dave Strahl.

And the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District says opening the locks would have no impact on Mount Prospect.