Elk Grove Village

The water supply originates from Lake Michigan, one of the five Great Lakes. The lake water is processed and filtered by the City of Chicago Municipal Water Department. The treated water is then transported to the Northwest Suburban Municipal Joint Action Water Agency (NSMJAWA) reservoirs near O'Hare Airport.

NSMJAWA pumps the water to Elk Grove Village and six other northwest suburban communities through large water transmission mains. Elk Grove Village maintains four connections to the NSMJAWA transmission system.

Before switching to lake water, the Village utilized up to 14 deep wells throughout the community. Six of these deep wells are maintained as emergency backup supplies should lake water become unavailable. The Village regularly monitors these emergency wells, and information about contaminant detections is available by contacting Scott Nailor at the Public Works Department (847-734-8800). Note that untreated water from emergency wells is not used in the Village's regular water system.

Lake Michigan, the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume, is hydrologically inseparable from Lake Huron. Its shoreline spans nearly 1,640 miles including all islands, with the 63 miles within Illinois considered well-protected.

As water travels over land or underground to the lake, it can dissolve naturally occurring minerals or radioactive materials and pick up substances from animal presence or human activity. Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants such as viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants including salts and metals, which can occur naturally or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agricultural, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage

Construction Projects Current City Projects Future City Projects Private Projects in the Right-Of-Way Specs & Standards

Does someone need to be injured before a traffic signal can be installed? Traffic signals don't always prevent accidents. In some cases, injuries and severe incidents increased after signals were installed. Typically, right-angle collisions decreased, but the total number of collisions, especially rear-end types, increased.

There are instances when signal installation results in more pedestrian injuries. Many pedestrians feel protected with a painted crosswalk and red light between them and approaching vehicles, while motorists may not recognize these "barriers" as quickly.

When can a traffic signal improve safety rather than compromise it? Traffic engineers must evaluate several factors:

1. Are there so many vehicles on both streets that signal controls are necessary to reduce confusion or congestion?
2. Is main road traffic so heavy that drivers from side streets attempt unsafe crossings?
3. Are pedestrian numbers crossing busy main roads creating hazardous conditions?
4. Do school children crossing at the same time require special protection? Is a traffic signal the best solution?
5. Will signals help drivers maintain consistent speed without unnecessary stops?
6. Does collision history indicate signals would reduce accident likelihood?
7. Do two major arterials intersect, and would signals improve traffic flow?
8. Is there a combination of conditions suggesting a signal would be beneficial rather than detrimental?

Engineers evaluate conditions against national guidelines (often called "Warrants") established through observations at intersections nationwide. Where guidelines are met, signals typically operate effectively with good compliance. Where guidelines aren't met, compliance decreases and additional risks emerge.

A well-planned traffic signal that reduces accidents and improves traffic flow benefits the community. Conversely, poorly designed or unnecessary signals can endanger all intersection users—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.