Water & Utilities

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The Utilities Division, within the Public Works Department, maintains watermain, storm sewer, and sanitary sewer infrastructure. Maintaining this infrastructure allows you to turn on your faucet, flush your toilet, and provides drainage after a rainfall. Water infrastructure includes maintaining the Village's main pumping station, 3 water booster stations, 7 water towers, and 4,500 fire hydrants. Storm water infrastructure includes maintaining flow of approximately 170 ponds and 5,000 storm water inlets. Sanitary sewer infrastructure includes 14 lift stations and 7,000 manholes.

Air Bubbles & Cloudy Water

What causes the tiny air bubbles or cloudiness in my water?

This condition occurs most often when water is very cold and then warms up while in a building's interior piping. Therefore, some air comes out of solution as tiny air bubbles when the water warms up. At times, the water may be so densely filled with air that the water appears cloudy. An easy way to check the cause of cloudiness is to fill a clear glass of water, set it on a table and watch. If the cloud rises from bottom to top, it is air escaping as the water warms. If the cloud sinks from the top to the bottom, you may have a sediment problem. If you believe that you have a sediment problem, please contact the Public Works Department.

Cloudy water with air bubbles

Backflow Preventer & Cross Connection Testing

Annual testing of backflow prevention assembly (RPZ) is required prior to operating the lawn sprinkling system. The Village of Orland Park has contracted BSI Online to handle notification and record keeping of residential and commercial users. Resident notification will begin going out in March of each year. Please do not disregard these letters. All residential devices must be tested by June 1. If records do not show a tested and compliant device per Chapter 11 Section 4.11.6 of the Village Code, Public Works will take precautionary measures and turn off water supply until device is compliant or has been removed from service.

RPZ device

Options:

1. Test device annually and use the lawn sprinkling system

2. Don't use the lawn sprinkling system

Licensed Cross-Connection plumber or plumber can permanently remove device at the main line by "capping". Pictures and a brief note from the plumber can be sent to BSI or Public Works verifying device is no longer in service. BSI will then remove resident from the system and notifications will no longer be sent.
If reconnection is needed in the future, resident will be responsible for notifying Public Works so they can be added back on the notification list.

3. Resident has the last option of converting connection to a garden spigot.

Illinois State Plumbing Code on Backflow Prevention

The Village of Orland Park follows the Illinois State Plumbing Code. Per Part 890 of the State Plumbing Code, please note the following requirement concerning backflow preventers (RPZs):

Section 890.1140(d) states that any lawn sprinkler system connected to a potable water supply shall be equipped with a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer assembly (RPZ). The RPZ may be located outside provided it is protected from freezing or is removed at the end of the season, and it conforms with section 890.1130(g)(1) (see below).
Section 890.1130(g)(1) states that backflow preventer assemblies and devices shall be installed to be accessible for observation, maintenance, and replacement services. It also states that backflow preventer devices or assemblies shall not be installed where they would be subject to freezing conditions, except as allowed in Section 890.1140(d) above.
Section 890.1130(b) states that all devices and assemblies for the prevention of backflow shall comply with the standards listed in Appendix A, Table A of the State Plumbing Code. All reduced pressure principle, reduced pressure detector, double check and double check detector backflow prevention assemblies shall be tested and approved by a cross-connection control device inspector before initial operation, and at least annually thereafter. Records to verify testing and maintenance shall be available at the site of installation.

Electric - ComEd

ComEd Emergency
If you have an electric emergency it is important to call ComEd immediately. Never e-mail your emergency request. If you need to report an emergency situation such as a fire, vehicle accident, electric contact/shock, or other potential danger, please call 911 to notify local authorities.

Storm Center
When the storms roll in, ComEd is ready to keep you up to date on our outage restorations. Visit the ComEd Storm Center to get the latest information on outages in the service territory, view the outage map, and report an outage.

Outage Map
With ComEd’s outage map, customers can view all outages in the ComEd service area at once and zoom in and get details on specific areas, such as the estimated restoration time and status of crews working to resolve problems. Icons are color-coded to indicate the number of customers affected by each incident.

Outage Alerts
Need to report an outage? Text the word OUT to 26633 (ComEd) and get updates until your power is restored. Visit the ComEd website and sign up for the Outage Alert Program.

For More Information
Contact ComEd

Gas - Nicor

Lead Service Line

The Village of Orland Park is required by the State of Illinois to routinely monitor for lead which has not, and is not, currently found within the drinking water supply. Under certain circumstances however, lead can enter your drinking water through the corrosion of the lead water service pipe and/or plumbing found in your home. When consumed, lead can be harmful to human health, especially younger children and women who are pregnant and can have adverse health effects under prolonged exposure. For more information on lead exposure and its health effects, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website at the following website: www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/prevention/health-effects.htm

Additional information regarding lead water service lines can be found in this brochure: Lead Brochure

Lead and copper draft replacement plan

No Wipes Down the Pipes

Prevent Water Freezing

Prevent Water Freeze-Ups

Tips for Preventing Water Freeze-Ups

Preventative maintenance before the setting chill of winter prevents a lot of frustration and expensive repair. Taking a few minutes outside can keep aggravation to a minimum.

Boats and Campers: Orland Park residents with boats and campers that have seen the final days of summer should be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for wintering.
Floor Drains with P-Traps: Homes with floor drains with P-traps located in areas that are subject to freezing, like unheated garages or area ways, should add a small amount of automobile antifreeze or salt brine solution to the P-trap.
Frost Proof Spigots: Residents with homes without frost-proof spigots must close the interior valves in the basement or crawl space, followed by opening the spigot, allowing it to drain properly.
Garden Hoses: Remove the garden hose from the outside frost-proof spigot. Leaving the hose connected prevents all of the water from draining, making the spigot vulnerable to freezing and breaking.
Interior Water Lines: When the temperatures become extreme enough, some underground service lines, interior water lines and waste water lines can freeze. During extreme cold spans, check to make sure pipes that are near exterior walls in crawl spaces and basements are protected from drafts.
Lawn Sprinkler Systems: Residents with lawn sprinkler systems that are equipped with an RPZ valve (reduced backflow pressure valve) should remove the valve before winter to prevent freezing and subsequent breakage. Once the RPZ valve is removed, drain all the water from it and store it in a heated area. In the spring, be sure to have the RPZ valve retested once is has been reinstalled.
Running Water and Anti-Freeze: It may help to leave a small trickle of water running at a kitchen and/or bathroom faucet to prevent freeze-ups. Also, to protect them, you may want to add some biodegradable anti-freeze to floor drains in unheated areas.
Swimming Pools: Those with above-ground or in-ground swimming pools should be sure should be sure to drain down the pool heater and turn off the gas. Be sure to also drain down the pool's filter and pump.