Contact:

Rosemary Mackey
(630) 293-2200
rmackey@westchicago.org

 
City of West Chicago

475 Main Street
West Chicago, Illinois 60185

Protecting Our Local Waterways
West Chicago, Illinois: April 27, 2010 – Clean water is everyone’s business. Recently, the City of West Chicago adopted an ordinance to comply with the Clean Water Act which protects the health, safety and general welfare of its citizens. The Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) ordinance prohibits the discharge of contaminants into the storm water system affecting the quality of our local waterways and those in the community surrounding them.

There are two types of sewers in the City of West Chicago: storm and sanitary. Storm sewers are intended to take storm water, rainfall, and snowmelt through the storm sewer system and drain it, untreated, to the nearest waterway. Sanitary sewers take “gray” water such as that from our sinks, toilets, bathtubs, septic fields, industrial usages, and other types of water containing contaminants that must be treated, to our wastewater treatment plant prior to being released back into the environment.

Illicit discharges are any substances other than storm water, rainfall, or snowmelt that end up in the storm sewer system. Examples of illicit discharges include sanitary wastewater or water from sinks, toilets, and bathtubs; discharge from septic fields and tanks; commercial car wash wastewaters; improper oil disposal; radiator flushing disposal; laundry wastewaters; spills from roadway accidents; improper disposal of automobile and household toxics; and swimming pool water that is chlorinated, brominated, or not pH neutral.

Although not currently considered an illicit discharge, the by-product of car washes, for personal or fundraising purposes, can contaminate nearby bodies of water, sending pollutants like dirt, soap, oil, and grease along with the wash water into streams and rivers. Ideally, wastewater from residential and fundraiser car washes should be emptied into a sanitary sewer for treatment at the wastewater treatment plant. However, here are other suggestions to help make residential and fundraiser car washes more environmentally friendly:
  • Temporarily pull the car into a grassy area for washing
  • Use no-phosphate, biodegradable, earth-friendly cleaning products
  • Avoid using degreasers, solvents, and tire-cleaning products
  • Wring out sponges and rags in a bucket, which should be emptied into the sanitary system via sinks or toilets
  • Use a low-flow nozzle for your hose and turn it off when not using the water
  • Sweep up debris and dispose of it in the garbage rather than hosing it off into the street
  • Use just enough soap and water needed to get the job done
  • Consider holding fundraiser car washes at a commercial car wash, which is already equipped to discharge water to the sanitary sewer
If you have additional questions about what discharges are allowed, please contact the Community Development Department at (630)293-2200 x141. If you observe or suspect an illicit discharge into the storm sewer system, please contact the DuPage County IDDE hotline at (630) 407-6796.
 

 

 

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West Chicago is a diverse, family-oriented community with a rich cultural mix and a proud heritage. It is the first Illinois community established by the railroads and continues to be a convenient transportation hub served by three major rail lines, Illinois' third-busiest airport and three state highways. West Chicago offers award-winning schools, a growing industrial park and convenient access to parks, shopping and restaurants. Additional information can be found on the City's website at www.westchicago.org or by calling Rosemary Mackey directly at (630) 293-2200 x 139.
 
 
CITY OF WEST CHICAGO   475 Main Street, West Chicago, Illinois 60185   T - (630) 293-2200   www.westchicago.org