Village of Skokie - Public Works - Village of Skokie Water Quality Issues

As many residents are aware, since 1944 the Village of Skokie has purchased water from the City of Evanston. In response to a requirement by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the City of Evanston has provided the Village with the data for the Village of Skokie's Consumer Confidence Report on drinking water quality. The Report concludes that Skokie's water supplies are in compliance with all USEPA requirements. To review this report click on the Village of Skokie Water Quality Report link below.

In addition to the distribution of this information, several complementary water-related articles were compiled by the Village for informational purposes.

Water Taste
During late summer or early fall, some residents report an earthy taste and musty odor to their water. This occurs particularly during the late summer and early fall. The change in taste has no ill effect on health and the water is safe to drink. Placing a few drops of lemon juice in your water may mask the taste. The source of the taste is related to the presence of zebra mussels that filter the water in Lake Michigan producing clearer water, lower levels of plankton and, on occasion, higher levels of odor-producing algae. Cold temperatures slow the rate of algae growth, so the taste issues generally are remedied as winter approaches. In the meantime, if you are particularly sensitive to the taste, you may wish to install a home treatment device with an activated charcoal filter. The device should have replaceable cartridges and be maintained according to manufacturers recommendations.

Water Hardness Levels
Hardness is a measure of the concentration of calcium and magnesium in water. Soft groundwater may occur where top-soil is thin and limestone formations are sparse. Hard and soft waters are both safe for human consumption. Extremely hard water may form scale in plumbing fixtures and boilers; and very soft water is extremely corrosive and must be treated. The Village of Skokie water hardness is medium (averaging 7.5 to 8.5 grains or 130 to 140 parts per million).

Why is my water cloudy?
The cloudiness is attributed to millions of tiny air bubbles. It is harmless and not a health concern. Water in the Skokie water distribution system is under pressure, causing the air present to be dissolved in the water until the pressure is released at the tap. If the amount of dissolved air is low, your water may appear to sparkle or have small bubbles. If there is a greater amount of dissolved air in your water, millions of very tiny bubbles will appear when the pressure is released, giving the water a cloudy, white or milky appearance. It may take several minutes for the air to escape. As it does, the water will clear from the bottom of the glass upward.

How Much Water Do You Use?
Lake Michigan affords a plentiful supply of water which may cause people not to consider conservation a primary concern. However, water conservation is more than just reducing the amount of water consumed. Water conservation means using water intelligently.

Before you can conserve water, you need to know how to measure the amount of water you use. Your water bill and water meter are the tools that can help to determine your water consumption and start your own water conservation program.

What Your Water Bill Can Tell You:
In Skokie, water bills are issued on a quarterly basis. The dates, as well as the number of days during the billing period, are indicated on the bill. A frequently misunderstood number on your water bill is the usage amount, which is rounded to the nearest 100 cubic feet of water. Skokie water users pay *$24.15 per 1,000 cubic feet of water. Since most of us cannot picture a cubic foot of water, we need to convert the cubic feet to gallons to get a better idea of the amount of water consumed. To do this, multiply the usage number on the water bill by 750 or add two zeros to the usage number and multiply by 7.5.

For example, let us assume your usage rate reads 20 or 2,000 cubic feet of water. Using the formula above, one can convert the usage figure to 15,000 gallons of water used in this billing period. Daily usage is approximately 167 gallons of water (assuming a 90 day billing cycle).

In our example, you received 15,000 gallons of water for a cost of $48.30 How does this compare to other purchases consumers make? Well, $48.30 buys approximately eight cases of soda pop (which converts to about 18 gallons). Convert the daily water usage to gallons of milk, and you would have paid nearly $500.00 per day! While water delivered to your home faucet is quite a bargain, being smart about water use can save you both time and money.

What your Water Meter Can Tell You.
Your water meter is located in your basement. Skokie water meters are read electronically from the exterior of your home. You may have noticed the black box near the front of your home. This black box can only be read with a scanner; however, you can read the water meter in your basement.

The odometer numbers on your meter can be used to help detect water leaks. Before going to bed, jot down the number on your meter and mark the position of the arrow with a temporary marker. In the morning, check to see if the number has increased or the arrow has moved. If there is a difference, you have a leak. This method, however, will not be effective if you have automatic appliances that require water during the night, such as an icemaker or a humidifier.

There is another way to check for leaks using your water meter. The small red triangle is actually a leak detector. If it is moving, then water is being used. The faster it moves, the more water is being used. So, if all of your water-consuming appliances are off and the red triangle is still moving, you have a leak.

A leak of just one drop of water per second wastes over 2,000 gallons of water a year.

10 Tips For Water Conservation
1. Test for a leaking toilet by adding food coloring to the tank. If any color appears in the bowl after 30 minutes, your toilet is leaking. Leaking toilets can waste thousands of gallons of water a day. Flush as soon as test is done, since food coloring may stain the tank.

2. Use water-conserving plumbing fixtures and water-flow restrictors on sinks and showers. Bathroom facilities typically constitute 75 percent of the water used in homes.

3. Run your dishwasher and washing machine only when you have a full load. Be sure to properly set the water level for the size of load you are using.

4. Take a short shower instead of a bath. A bath uses 30 to 50 gallons of water. Showers use about a gallon of water per minute, less if a flow constrictor is installed.

5. Store drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the tap run every time you want a glass of cool water. It takes longer to get cool water from your tap than it does to get hot water.

6. Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or doing housework. Try capturing rainwater for later use in the garden.

7. Avoid using a garbage disposal. Disposals use a great deal of water. Add your garbage to the trash instead of putting it down the garbage disposal.

8. Choose plants that are native to the area in which you live or plants that are drought-resistant for landscaping and gardens. Native plants are accustomed to the natural amount of precipitation that occurs in the area they are found and normally do not require any additional watering. Group plants together based on similar watering needs. Consult your local garden shop for appropriate plants.

9. Water lawn and gardens during the coolest part of the day to minimize evaporation. Village Ordinance restricts watering, Monday - Friday, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. from mid-May to mid-September. Apply water slowly, exactly where it is needed. Position sprinklers so that water lands on the lawn and shrubs, not on paved areas.

10. Use a bucket of water and a spray head on the hose to wash your car. A running hose can waste hundreds of gallons of water in the time it takes to wash a car.

Not-Just-For-Kids
You will be surprised how easy it is to conserve water. When we use more water than we need we are wasting a valuable resource. This month challenge your friends and family members to see how much water they can save. Draw up a tally sheet using the water-saving hints listed below.

• Save over 12 gallons a day. Use a wastebasket instead of the toilet to dispose of tissues or other similar items.

• Save three gallons twice a day. Do not run the water while brushing your teeth.

• Save 25 gallons per day. Wash dishes by filling up the sink with soap and water instead of running the water the whole time.

• Save two gallons per drink. Keep a pitcher of cold water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap until the water cools enough to drink.

• Save 25 gallons every five minutes. Do not hose down your sidewalk or driveway or position your sprinklers to spray the pavement.

• Save 84 gallons a month. Repair all faucet leaks immediately. Thirty drops per minute of water is equal to 84 gallons a month or 1, 008 gallons of wasted water per year.

• Save 220 gallons of water each day. Every hour you water your lawn is equal to 220 gallons of water. Water during the early morning hours when low temperatures do not evaporate the water.

• Save 33 gallons (or more). Collect rainwater from downspouts in a plastic or galvanized metal trash container. Place the downspout into a hole cut out of the top of the trash receptacle. Transport the water using a bucket or hand pump. Use the rain, instead of your garden hose,to water trees, bush, grass and gardens.

• Save 30 gallons or more. Before rinsing your dog off outside with a garden hose, place your dog in a metal tub and collect the water to reuse on your lawn or garden.

Conserving water at home decreases the amount of wastewater going into treatment plants and septic tanks. In addition, using water requires a lot of energy. It must be cleaned, pumped, and distributed before it reaches your faucet.

For more information on ways to conserve water visit the Skokie Public Library or visit www.epa.gov

Water Rate
The water rate in Skokie is $24.15 per 1,000 cubic feet. Skokie does not impose an additional sewer charge, a common practice in many towns.

What are non-point source storm water pollutants?
Non-point source (NPS) pollution occurs when rain or melting snow carry pollutants such as contaminated soil, fertilizers, salt or animal waste into the sewer system. These pollutants are called non-point source because it is not always possible to identify their origins. While we sometimes want to point the finger of blame at industry, the fact is that we all contribute to non-point source pollution when we dispose of household hazardous wastes through the sewer system, over fertilize our lawns and gardens, leave pet waste unattended or allow our cars to leak automotive fluids onto Skokie streets and parking lots.

What are some more examples?
Pollutants can come from a variety of places both in and around our homes and businesses:

Source: Construction sites; bare spots in lawns and gardens; wastewater from washing cars and trucks on driveways or parking lots

Source: Overused or spilled fertilizers; pet waste; grass clippings that enter the street sewers; leaves burned in ditches

Source: Car and truck exhaust; leaks and spills of oil and gas; burning leaves and garbage

Source: Cars and trucks (tire wear, brakes, exhaust); galvanized metal gutters and downspouts.

Where do these pollutants go?
Skokie has a combination sewer system. The contents of the storm sewers are mixed with the contents of household sewers.

All of the waste is sent to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) water treatment plant. There, these wastes are treated to lower pollution levels and returned to the river system. Treated wastewater eventually flows into the Illinois River and then into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. So, what happens in Skokie and other Chicago-area communities affects both the quality of river water and the quality of life for other residents of Illinois and the United States.

During severe rainfalls, when the water system backflows, untreated sewage and pollutants may be discharged into the North Shore Channel. While these backflows are rare, they can occasionally occur.

What happens to pollutants at the water treatment plant?
When pollutants enter the plant, the normal treatment process is slowed down. Particles that would normally disappear after one hour may still remain in the system six to eight hours after arrival. As we all know, time is money. The cost to treat pollutants is high, and this cost is passed on to you through taxes paid to MWRDGC. One way of reducing taxes is to reduce the amount of pollutants entering the sewer system.

How can I reduce NPS pollution?
Reducing non-point source pollution can be easy.

Some ideas for reducing pollution in and around your home or business are included below.

10 tips to Reduce Non-Point Source Pollution
1. Properly dispose of household hazardous wastes such as motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, drain cleaner, mildew remover, mothballs, lead-acid batteries, chemicals, paint and thinners. Village of Skokie refuse collection crews will not collect hazardous waste products. Residents can contact the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County at 847-724-9205 to find out the locations, times and dates of the nearest household hazardous waste disposal sites.

2. Dispose of used motor oil from cars and lawn equipment at local service stations or quick oil change businesses. Call the business before transporting the oil for disposal.

3. Apply the right amount of fertilizer to your lawn. Soil testing kits that measure nutrients and pH levels are available through your local nursery. Avoid applying fertilizers before a heavy rainstorm that will cause nutrients to wash away before they are absorbed into the soil.

4. Keep your mowing height at three inches. Taller grass holds more water, requires less irrigation, and helps to shade out weeds. Prevent grass clippings from entering the sewer by leaving them on the lawn. Grass clippings are a natural fertilizer, and it’s free!

5. Clean up pet wastes to prevent bacteria from entering the sewer system. Remember, Village Ordinance requires dog owners to completely and immediately remove pet waste from streets, sidewalks and alleys.

6. Wash your car with a no-phosphate detergent. Better yet, take your car to a local car wash where water is recycled.

7. Check for drips under your car or truck and repair leaks immediately to keep oils off of the pavement. During the summer months, when gas can expand, take care not to overfill gas tanks, or fuel might spill out on streets or driveways.

8. Direct roof downspouts away from driveways and foundations and towards your lawn or garden. Use a splash block directly below your downspout to help prevent soil erosion.

9. Plant native trees, grasses, and flowers in your yard. These plants require less water, and their root systems hold the soil in place.

10. Clean up litter from your home, business, school, neighborhood, or park. When it rains, water flows over everything on the ground and washes it all into Skokie’s combined sewer system.

MWRDGC 24 Hour Hotline
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) receives and treats the sewage from the Village of Skokie. The District has established a 24 hour hotline to report the dumping of hazardous material into the sewer system. This number was established in an effort to reduce the possibility of contamination of waterways, poisoned fish and wildlife, and damage to the biological process of the waste water treatment plant. The hotline number is 800-332-DUMP.