Elmwood Park

This document provides essential information about your tap water and the measures taken by our system to deliver safe water. Elmwood Park purchases water from the City of Chicago, which is metered and transported through two major pipes to a two-million-gallon underground reservoir. From there, it flows to our 250,000-gallon water tower before distribution to village homes, businesses, and fire hydrants.

The Water Division implements numerous safeguards to ensure your water meets the highest quality standards. We post-chlorinate and test chlorine levels multiple times daily. Six bacteriological samples are collected weekly from various locations throughout the village. We also monitor for Trihalomethanes, which are byproducts of water chlorination. These and other measures help deliver the best possible water to our residents.

For questions about this report, please contact Dino Braglia or Janet Slusarz at (708) 452-7300. Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre el agua que usted bebe. Tradúzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.

Sources of Water: Municipal water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and groundwater wells. As water travels over land surfaces or through soil, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and sometimes radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal or human activity. All water, including bottled water, can reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants, though their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

Potential Contaminants Include:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses, bacteria) from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants (salts, metals) either naturally-occurring or resulting from urban runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants, either naturally-occurring or from oil/gas production and mining

The EPA regulates public water systems to ensure safety, while FDA regulations establish similar protections for bottled water. Some individuals may be particularly vulnerable to certain water contaminants, including those with compromised immune systems (cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients), the elderly, and infants. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers regarding water consumption.

Lead concerns: Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in tap water primarily comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. We cannot control plumbing component materials. To minimize lead exposure, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking if it has been sitting for several hours.

What specific charges are increasing on my bill? Water and sewer rates plus the fixed meter service fee. Tap fees apply only to developers for new or expanded construction projects.

What will the updated rates be? See the chart for 2019 and 2020 rate schedules.

How do these charges affect HOA residents? Homeowners Association members pay different water rates than single-family detached homes due to building type and infrastructure requirements. Visit the HOA/Schools/Church Customer page for details.

What does the Meter Service Charge/Water Utility Infrastructure Charge cover? This fixed monthly fee ensures our complete water supply system (storage, treatment plants, pumps, and pipes) remains ready to deliver clean, safe water whenever needed. It covers the "readiness to serve" capability, guaranteeing reliable water access at any moment.

What do my utility rates fund? As infrastructure ages, repairs and replacements become increasingly necessary. Westminster faces the same cost increases as homeowners. Maintaining aging systems is expensive, though we maintain water and sewer rates at approximately average for the region. Watch our video for more information.

What does the Stormwater Management Fee fund? This fee covers comprehensive stormwater utility services: maintenance, engineering, construction, environmental compliance, flood control, facility inspections, illegal dumping enforcement and cleanup, and construction site oversight. It also supports the free hazardous household waste collection program and street sweeping services.

Why are water rates increasing? Rate adjustments fund essential infrastructure repairs and maintenance. Every additional dollar flows directly back into the community, ensuring continued access to high-quality water. We're increasing rates to address aging infrastructure and meet stricter water quality standards. Reliable equipment and facilities ensure clean water delivery year-round.

Our operating expenses increase annually with rising costs for labor, supplies, chemicals, and contracts. See our 2015/2016 and 2017/2018 budget cycles for details on these yearly increases. The Utility also manages major projects through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to repair/replace aging infrastructure and accommodate growth and changing regulations.