Water and Sewer System

Sanitary Sewer System/Sewer Jetting

The sanitary sewer system is made up of ten sanitary pump stations and over 32 miles of sewer mains. The Village maintains the pump stations and sewer mains on a daily basis. From time to time the pumps need to be pulled due to clogging. This can cause expensive damage to the pumps and possible sewer back-ups. Please do not flush any non-biodegradable material into the sewer system such as rags, clothes, cleaning wipes, anything plastic, dental floss or feminine sanitary products. These items will collect and cause major problems in the sewer system and clog up the pumps that can result in sewer back-ups into residential homes. The Village cleans a percentage of the sewer mains yearly. The cleaning usually takes place from April-November. From time to time you may hear noises (such as gurgling water) in your sewer lines.

Hydrant Flushing

The Village generally flushes fire hydrants in mid to late April and mid to late October. Signs will be posted as a reminder. You may experience rusty water or a temporary change of water pressure during this process. If you notice rust in the water, let your water run a few minutes until it clears. Avoid doing laundry when rust is visible in the water.

Watering Restrictions

The Village has an ordinance in place for water conservation. Residents with even numbered addresses may sprinkle on even numbered days from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.; residents with odd addresses may sprinkle on odd numbered days from 8pm to 8am. No watering will be allowed on Sundays. These restrictions do not apply to hand watering. The ordinance also establishes fines for violators. (Section 4-8-2 of code book) Keep in mind that water is a precious resource, please conserve it whenever possible.

Sewer Backups

Due to various conditions sewer back-ups can occur. This is when the sewer main or lateral becomes full to the point that the sewage backs up and enters into the residence or business. Most of the time sewer back-ups can be prevented by following a few simple steps. Make sure that your sump pump is not connected to the sanitary sewer line. Do not allow grease or oils to go down the drain; collect them in a container and throw them in your garbage once cooled. Do not flush any non-biodegradable material into the sewer system such as rags, clothes, cleaning wipes, anything plastic, dental floss or feminine sanitary products.

Sometimes sewer back-ups are unavoidable. They can be caused by a collapsed or shifted pipe, equipment failure, and tree roots entering the pipe through cracks or joints. If you experience a sewer back-up, please remember that it is untreated waste water and you should avoid contact without proper protection. Sanitary sewage is a health hazard. Call the Village Hall at 847-356-6100 if during regular business hours. If after 4:30 p.m., weekends or holidays call the village dispatch at 847-587-3100 and the Duty man will be contacted to inspect the back-up.

You may want to call your insurance company to see if you have sewer back-up coverage and how that would be handled. You may want the services of a professional company that specializes in cleanup of sewer back-ups.

Swimming Pool Drainage

Swimming pool maintenance involves chemicals that may be harmful to the environment. Therefore, it's important to use the proper procedures when draining water from your pool. Please review "Guidelines for Draining Swimming Pools" before draining your pool.  The guidelines can also be found in the Stormwater Management Program Plan.

Cross Connection Control Program

The Village of Lake Villa has a Cross-Connection Control Program in place to comply with the requirements of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (ILEPA) to protect the safety of community public water systems. We are required to provide water that is usable and safe to drink under all foreseeable circumstances.

A cross-connection is any temporary or permanent connection between the public water system and another source. An example is the piping between a public water system and an auxiliary water system such as an irrigation system. Contamination due to backflow from a cross-connection can occur in the public water system if a backflow prevention device is not installed or working properly. Backflow is the undesirable reversal flow of water back into the public water system from the cross-connection. (Section 5-7-1 of code book) We are required to periodically survey water customers regarding possible cross-connections at their residence. Working together, we can ensure safe drinking water for everyone.  It is the responsibility of the property owner to obtain an RPZ inspection once a year and direct the inspector to submit test results to BSI Online.  This requirement is mandated by the State of Illinois and is subject to fines and penalties.  For questions or assistance with your backflow testing, contact BSI Online's customer service at:

Water Customer Contact Information:

  • Phone: 888-966-6050
  • Email: support@backflow.com
  • Fax: 888-414-4990
  • Mail: PO Box 246, Worth, IL 60482

 Testing Company/Tester Contact Information:

Sump Pump Connections & Inspections

The Illinois EPA is enforcing their requirements that Villages control illegal discharges to sanitary sewer systems such as storm water, surface water, ground water, and roof runoff. The Village of Lake Villa has an ordinance in place to address this issue (Section 5-4B-5 of code book). If your residence has a sump pump or down spout connected to the sanitary sewer, please disconnect it. IEPA has a study underway which will require us to monitor all connections. If you aren't sure if your sump pump is connected to the sanitary sewer and you need assistance from us, please call the Village Hall at 847-356-6100.

Lawn Sprinklers

All lawn sprinkler systems connected to the Village water system require a building permit before installation and shall have an RPZ inspection approval by an RPZ inspector registered with the State of Illinois prior to using the sprinklers.  It is the responsibility of the property owner to obtain an RPZ inspection once a year and direct the inspector to submit test results to BSI Online.  This requirement is mandated by the State of Illinois and is subject to fines and penalties.  If your lawn sprinkler system is not active, you must complete a Certification for Inactive Irrigation System form and return to BSI Online annually.

Water Quality Reports

The Village of Lake Villa is required to test the drinking water, in our water systems, for specific contaminants on a regular basis, including testing of radium. Reports are prepared on an annual basis for both water systems. The reports are intended to provide you with important information about your drinking water and the efforts made by the water system to provide safe drinking water.

The Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency (CLCJAWA) Frequently Asked Questions.

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