Sustainability In The Sewer Unit
Storm Water Pollution Prevention
The Public Works Department has developed and implemented a storm water pollution prevention plan. This plan includes efforts to control erosion at construction sites, identify and eliminate illegal/improper discharges, label street drains to discourage improper liquid waste disposal, and similar proactive efforts. The Sewer Unit inspects storm sewers, drainage structures and water ways within the Village ensuring proper function and optimum performance.
Example of a labeled street drain
Rain Barrels
Rain barrels are a relatively simple effective way to collect and store rain water from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains
Lawn and garden watering make up nearly 40% of total household water use during the summer. Rain barrels collect water and stores it for when you need to water plants, wash your car, or to top a swimming pool. It provides an ample supply of free 'soft water' that contains no chlorine, lime or calcium. Rain barrels are ideal for gardens, flower pots, and car and window washing.
Rain barrels can potentially save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months. Saving water not only helps protect the environment, it saves both money and energy (decreased demand for treated tap water). Diverting water from storm drains decreases storm water runoff and pollutants that are picked up and carried to storm sewers, creeks and rivers.
Rain barrels can be ordered through the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.