Clean Your Grates
Clean your grates! In the fall, spring, and after heavy rains, be sure to check the storm sewer grates on the street by your house and in your yard. Grates clogged with leaves and trash can cause flooding. Please remove the debris away from the grate. If the debris is large, contact the Public Works Department at 847-913-2380, for assistance.
Emptying Your Pool
Your swimming pool is filled with chlorinated water. Chlorinated water discharged directly to surface waters (wetlands, lakes, streams, and rivers), roadways or storm sewers has an adverse impact on local water quality and wildlife.
High concentrations of chlorine, as are present in swimming pools, are toxic to wildlife and fish. Appropriate preparations should be made prior to draining down a pool during pool winterizing. It is recommended that one of the following measures be
used:
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De-chlorinate the water in the pool prior to draining. This can be done through mechanical or chemical means. These types of products are readily available at local stores.
Or
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Drain the pool over a period of several days across your lawn using the following additional guidelines:
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Allow pool water to sit at least 2 days while receiving a reasonable amount of sunlight, and without further addition of chlorine or bromine. It is recommended that the chlorine level be tested after 2 days to ensure that safe levels are met (below 0.1 mg/l).
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Pool discharge should be directed across your lawn, not down your driveway or into nearby storm sewer inlets. Our storm sewer system leads directly to wetlands, streams, lakes or rivers. These recommendations are based on guidance from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
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You may also contact the Village Public Works Department at 847-883-8600 or Lake County SMC at (847) 377-7715.
Please do your part to help improve water quality and promote cleaner wetlands, streams, lakes and rivers.
Fireplace Tips
Fireplaces add a nice ambiance to a room, but they can also cause dangerous fires. Don’t take any chances with your family and your home. Follow these fire department tips:
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Schedule an inspection and cleaning of your fireplace by a licensed, professional chimney sweep. It is recommended that this be done annually.
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Always close the screen or glass door of the fireplace to keep sparks from flying out. Keep all combustibles at least 36 inches away from the fire.
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Make sure the fire is out completely before you go to bed. Dispose of ashes in a metal container, not in plastic or paper bags.
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Never leave children unattended in a room where a fire is burning.
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Burn only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods. Avoid pine, spruce, and any wood that is green and moist. Never burn painted or treated lumber. These woods give off poisonous vapors.
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Never use accelerants such as gasoline or lighter fluid to start your fire. Use kindling wood instead.
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Keep your fire moderate in size.
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Never leave the fire unattended.
Hydrant Clearance
Every second counts in an emergency! You can help the Lincolnshire Riverwoods-Fire Protection District and Public Works by shoveling five feet around fire hydrants and a path to the hydrant from the street.
Protect Water Lines from Freezing
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Keep home temperatures no lower than 55 °F.
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In extreme cold, allow cold water to drip through faucets.
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Open cabinets and closets containing water lines to allow warm air to circulate around the plumbing.
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Consider installing pipe insulation.
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Periodically check pipe insulation.
Keep Vents and Natural Gas Meters Clear
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If you have a high-efficiency furnace, power-vented water heater, or other natural gas appliance that vents out of the side of your home, remember to keep the vent pipe clear of ice and snow.
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Keep your natural gas meters clear of ice and snow for safety and accessibility
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Remove hanging icicles to prevent dripping water from refreezing on your meter.
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If your meter is covered with solid ice, don't attempt to remove it yourself; call North Shore Gas at 866-556-6004 for assistance.
Sanitary Sewer Service Lines
To reduce the chance of a sanitary sewer backup, you may wish to have your service line from your house to the mainline cleaned and inspected. Tree roots can block the flow through these lines by entering through cracks in the joints of the pipes. Commercial contractors who perform this service are listed in the phone book under "Sewer Cleaners and Repairers".
Sump Pumps
The Village Code requires that residents disconnect sump pump discharges that flow to the street and redirect the flow onto their own property between November 1st and April 1st. This is done to prevent ice buildup in the streets which could create a hazard to both motorists and pedestrians, as well as cause excessive damage to roadways and snow removal equipment.
Most homes have two sump pumps. The first sump pump is connected to the sanitary sewer. It removes any water generated within the house, such as water from floor drains in a basement, overflows from washing machines, and waste in lower parts of the house. Since it is possible this water may have come in contact with household chemicals, it must be sent to the wastewater treatment plant before being discharged into the environment. The second sump pump is either discharged to the storm sewer or in a yard. This sump pump removes water from the drain constructed around the outside of the basement walls. This pump plays an important part in protecting the basement walls from damage during rain events and in keeping basements dry. Since this water’s source is rain or groundwater, it is considered clean and does not need to be treated by the wastewater treatment plant.
Sending clean storm water to the wastewater treatment plant can overload the plant during periods of heavy rainfall, and can cost the taxpayers a great deal of money. Therefore, the Village has established an inspection program to ensure that stormwater sump pumps are not “cross-connected” to the sanitary sewer system. If you would like more information on this program, please contact Maxwell Geib, utilities superintendent at 847-913-2383.