Watering Restrictions

In order to conserve water in our community, the Village has an odd/even outside water use restriction.  The restriction is a simple and effective way to ensure that the Village maintains the necessary water supply throughout the year and especially during the hot and dry summer months. 

Under the odd/even restriction, residents and businesses with odd numbered addresses are permitted to use water outside (i.e. to water the garden, lawn, wash the car etc...) on odd numbered days (for example the folks at 789 Maple Ave can use outside water on any odd numbered day such as the 1st, 3rd, 15th, 23rd of the month).  Residents and businesses with even numbered addresses can use outside water on even numbered days. 

This restriction is in effect all year and is strictly enforced during the summer.  The penalty for violating this regulation is $50 for each offense.

The Village has placed outside water usage signs across the Village.  They were created to establish greater uniformity among the surrounding communities.  Similar to the signs found in Algonquin and Huntley, the new outside water usage signs utilize a color system to identify more clearly the current level of allowable outside water use at any given time. 

The signs are installed at the entrance to every major subdivision in the Village, allowing for an optimal level of visibility and communication. The placard within the sign will be changed when the conditions change.  The placards are color coded to make it easier to identify changes in conditions.

This sign indicates the Village is operating under normal conditions, where outside water use is permitted on an odd or even basis.  Addresses ending in odd number use water on odd numbered dates and even numbers on even numbered dates.

Same as the odd / even condition except outside water use is restricted to between the hours of 7 am to 9 am and 7 pm to 9 pm.  This is used when equipment failures or extreme weather conditions create a situation where open outside water use could create a serious strain on the system and impair fire fighting water reserves.

Outside water use is prohibited.  This condition is only used due to failure of critical equipment or when total water use exceeds system capacity to meet the demand.  This condition is employed to ensure the safety of your drinking water and to maintain fire fighting water reserves for use in an emergency.

Typically, the condition color change will remain in place for a week or more until the situation forcing the change is resolved.  The Water Division works hard to keep the changes to a minimum.  Your assistance by following the temporary restrictions helps ensure the safety of your drinking water and the community.  If you have any questions please contact Public Works at (847)960-7500.

Lawn Care - Recommended Techniques

Did You Know?

Up to 50% of household water is used outdoors to water lawns & gardens!

Below are some ways to keep your lawn hearty and healthy for the summer and keep your water use down…

Deep Watering / Once Per Week

Experts say that lawns need watering only once a week if Mother Nature hasn’t taken care of that already. More frequent watering actually renders your lawn vulnerable to dry spells by restricting the proper expansion of its root system to only the top inch of the soil. Doing a weekly, deep watering technique will expand your lawns’ root system downward where it will be less vulnerable to drought conditions.

Mow More Frequently

Removing more than 1/3 the height of your lawn in one cutting puts a great deal of stress on the grass. When in dry spells, adjust your mowers cutting height and allow your grass to grow a little longer. This will allow your lawn to resist drought conditions naturally.

Water Early Mornings or After Dusk

Doing this is the most effective technique in regards to lawn health and cost. Watering during the hottest time of day may damage your plantings as well as cause unnecessary waste of water through evaporation.

In the Event of Drought…

If we do have an extended period of drought and your lawn goes brown, do not worry. Grass goes dormant to protect itself, just like in winter, and will stay dormant until moisture and cooler weather arrives again. However, you should continue to water your trees and shrubbery at least once a week until the dry conditions are over.

Unpleasant Odor in Your Water

If you discover an unpleasant “sulfur” or “rotten egg” odor in your water, there three primary factors that cause it. The first is a natural & harmless water-born gas called hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). Hydrogen sulfide is commonly present in most groundwater wells, both deep and shallow. Although there is no known risk to your health, hydrogen sulfide can be an aesthetic irritant.

The second factor that can cause this odor is lack of movement in the water distribution system causing it to become stagnant. This lack of desired turn over can happen as the result of obsolete infrastructure or lack of customer usage in the winter season. The longer that water remains in the distribution system, the more likely it is to develop an odor. When both of these situations are combined, the odor is most noticeable.

The third factor that can easily cause a rotten egg odor in your water is the improper maintenance of your hot water tank. Equipment manufacturers recommend that you flush your hot water tank at least once every three months, but it depends on how much hot water you use in relation to the size of your tank. For example, a large hot water tank with moderate usage will require more frequent flushing. If this is not done, the water in the tank can become stagnant in a similar fashion as factor # 2. As you draw from the tank, the stagnant water travels through your plumbing where the odor can be noticed on the receiving end. Another problem with hot water tanks that can produce the most pungent sulfur smell is a magnesium heating element that’s going bad. When the magnesium rod begins to fail, it is designed to produce this odor as a warning that you need to replace it soon.

If you are experiencing an odor problem in your water, the source of the problem can be identified through a simple test at your kitchen sink. If you notice the odor while using hot water, or any blend of hot and cold water, this indicates a problem with your hot water tank. In most cases, this can be solved by a simple flushing. If you notice the odor solely in the cold water, with no hot water blend, this indicates a problem in the local distribution system. If this is the case, contact the Water Division of the Public Works Department at (847) 960-7500. Just like the way a hot water tank needs to be flushed, the local water mains in your area may require the same.

Do I Need a Water Softener?

If you’ve been wondering whether or not you need a domestic water softener in your home, it is a matter of personal preference. Hard water does not pose a risk to your health, but can cause the undesirable buildup of calcium scale on dishes and plumbing fixtures. If you’re considering a softener, the first thing you want to do is click on the image above to view the interactive hardness map. With several different treatment facilities supplying the Lake in the Hills' water system, you may find that you already have soft water in your area.

There are a few things to consider before purchasing a home softener. If your primary concern is the calcium scale on your dishes, that can usually be handled in a more cost effective manner by using specialized dish washing detergents. If your concern is the feel of the hard water on your skin or the amount of soap lather, then a home softener would be appropriate. Water softeners add sodium to the water in the softening process, produce a “slimy” texture to the water and cause a “medicinal” taste. If you are on a sodium restricted diet, you should consult your physician before installing a home softener. There are both desirable and undesirable aspects to hard water versus soft water. It is the decision of each home owner to gauge which type they prefer.

Domestic Water Softeners and their Effect on Water Quality

Given the fact that domestic softening is merely a preference of each individual home owner, some people choose to install these units while others decide to take them out of service following a new home purchase or a change in the water system. In both situations, there are a couple of things to consider. A domestic water softener is the leading cause for a partial or complete loss of water pressure in the home which can be caused by one of two unique problems.

The first problem happens as the result of an equipment malfunction in the softener itself. Due to age or faulty manufacturing, the physical resin that performs the softening can break free from its housing. When this happens, the resin either creates a clog inside the softener or travels through the plumbing of your home, creating several clogs at faucets and shower heads. In either case, a significant or total loss of water pressure is the result. In order to rectify this condition, the water softener must be physically bypassed; not simply turned off or unplugged. Although most models have a lateral push lever labeled as the main bypass, you should consult your operation manual for the proper bypass procedure. In addition to bypassing the softener, each faucet in the home that has a screen aerator should be inspected for loose resin. The polystyrene resin abundantly used in home softening units has the appearance and texture of “fish eggs”; very small and relatively slimy. Faucet aerators should be removed to inspect and discard any resin that has collected there.

The second problem that can contribute to pressure loss is the improper abandonment of a home softening unit. It is not absolutely necessary to physically remove a softener from the plumbing schematic in your home to stop using it. However, it is necessary to bypass the unit as described previously. If the unit is merely turned off or unplugged, the softening operation will cease but water will continue to pass through it. Softening resin is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, which is only prevented by the backwashing and salt injection procedures of an active softener. When a softener is unplugged or turned off while water is still allowed to flow through it, the unit will stop cleaning itself and bacteria will begin to grow exponentially. Not only do the bacteria pose a potential health risk, it will eventually build to a point where it may restrict water flow and pressure in your home.

Water Meter Checks

As certain components of your interior plumbing system get older, leaks can develop. The most common leaks are not necessarily obvious or as easily detected as a dripping faucet or a puddle on the floor. Although these elusive leaks do not pose an immediate threat of damage to your home, they have the potential to cause high water bills and unnecessary waste of water.

The best way to detect leaks in your home is by performing a simple water meter check.  Each residential or commercial water meter in the Village has a red triangular device called a “flow indicator” located on the head of the unit. The flow indicator spins in a clockwise direction whenever water is being consumed. In order to conduct a leak test utilizing the flow indicator, first ensure that absolutely no water is being used. Then go to your water meter and check the status of the flow indicator. If all known sources of water are off and you notice the flow indicator spinning, then you have a leak in your plumbing system.

The lead contributor for this type of leak is the toilet and specifically, the “flapper gasket valve” found in the tank. This valve supplies water from the tank into the bowl when you flush and is designed to create a water-tight seal afterwards. As this valve gets older, it tends to warp and allow a continuous flow of water from the tank into the bowl. This is a leak that you will not see, rarely hear and provides little or no warning before you notice a significantly higher water bill. A flapper gasket valve is easy to replace, readily available at most hardware stores and only costs $3 to $5 on average.