Northbrook Water Company

The sources of municipal water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and groundwater wells. As water travels over land surfaces or through the ground, it dissolves natural minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material. It can also collect substances from animal presence or human activity. Our water comes from Lake Michigan.

Northbrook maintained compliance with all water quality standards last year. Please share this information with others who consume this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (such as apartment residents, nursing home patients, schools or businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public area or distributing copies personally or by mail.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Disinfection By-Products (DBPs) , including trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and haloacetic acids (HAA5s), form when chlorine interacts with organic compounds in raw water. The maximum contaminant levels are 80 µg/l for TTHMs and 60 µg/l for HAA5s. Long-term exposure to elevated levels may cause liver, kidney, or nervous system problems, and potentially increase cancer risk.
• Lead , if present at elevated levels, can cause serious health issues, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead primarily enters from service lines and household plumbing components. Flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for consumption can minimize lead exposure. Northbrook remains in compliance with lead and copper regulations.
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage.
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally or result from oil/gas production and mining operations.
• Inorganic contaminants like salts and metals, which may be naturally occurring or result from urban runoff, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming.
• Microbial contaminants such as viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife.
• Organic chemical contaminants , including synthetic and volatile organic compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems.
• Sodium , while not regulated by EPA or IEPA, requires monitoring for dietary considerations. Consult your physician if levels exceed 20 mg/l and you follow a sodium-restricted diet.

Turbidity measures water "cloudiness" and indicates filtration system effectiveness. Our water leaves the treatment plant at 0.04 NTUs, well below regulatory limits.

The Pinery WWD is introducing EyeOnWater to customers through three different methods:

1. Where does Northbrook water come from?
   Northbrook supplies surface water to Northbrook, Illinois.
2. Does Northbrook test its tap water?
   Yes. Like every public water system, Northbrook must test its water under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and publish an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report). Ask the utility for the latest report or look for it on its website.
3. How do I contact Northbrook?
   Call 847-272-5050 or visit 1225 Cedar Lane, Northbrook, IL 60062, or use the contact options on the utility’s website.
4. Does Northbrook water contain lead?
   Water usually leaves the treatment plant without lead. Lead can enter tap water from older service lines, solder and brass fixtures inside homes, especially when water sits in the pipes. Run the tap before drinking if water has been sitting, and ask the utility about lead testing and service line records.
5. Is Northbrook water hard?
   Hardness depends on the source and changes over time. The annual water quality report lists hardness, or you can test it at home. If it is above about 7 grains per gallon, a water softener sized to your measured hardness will stop scale and spotting.

For step-by-step EyeOnWater registration instructions, please visit our website.

Zebra Mussel Prevention Program: Zebra mussels are small striped mollusks that harm aquatic ecosystems by smothering native organisms and competing for food and habitat. They damage equipment by attaching to hard surfaces and can clog water treatment facilities. Originally detected in Pueblo Reservoir and Lake Granby, the District's Board has prohibited activities that risk introducing these invasive species to Bingham Lake.

Effective September 2, 2008, all boating, float tubes, and wading (with or without waders) are prohibited in the lake. Fishing remains permitted from shore and dock areas. The Board will continue monitoring the mussels' spread throughout the state and adjust lake management as needed.

Facility Tours Available: The District welcomes visitors to our Water Treatment, Distribution, Wastewater Collection, Treatment, and Reclamation facilities. Interested parties, individuals, schools, and homeschool groups can contact our office at (303)841-2797 to schedule tours or get more information. District representatives can also attend community gatherings for presentations on:

• Current Water Treatment Methods
• Distribution System Operations & Maintenance
• Water Conservation Programs
• Wastewater Treatment & Water Reclamation
• Wastewater Collection Systems
• Biosolids Production & Beneficial Reuse Programs

Staff Identification: Our personnel drive clearly marked District vehicles with the District logo and wear clothing with the same logo. If you're ever uncertain about someone's identity, please call our office at (303)841-2797.

Winter Water Service Tips: Each winter, we receive calls from homeowners who have lost water service due to freezing pipes. Most frozen lines occur inside homes, not in underground service lines which are buried approximately 5' deep where frost rarely penetrates. Outside freezing typically affects improperly winterized sprinkler systems or water meter pits. Most meters in our District are installed in outdoor pits near property lines, where ground temperature usually prevents freezing.

Inside your home, even small cold drafts near plumbing can freeze waterlines. Check where your water service enters the house and inspect for gaps in exterior woodwork above foundation or basement walls. Properly insulating water lines from cold air and sealing gaps significantly reduces service interruptions during cold weather. If you'll be away during winter, consider having someone check your home regularly or turning off your water supply.