One of the most important jobs of the Public Works Department is to ensure that the residents of Tinley Park have a safe, dependable water supply. For this reason, the Water & Sewer division works to ensure that the Village's sanitary sewer system and water system are up-to-date and functioning properly at all times.
For more information, contact Water Superintendent Joe Fitzpatrick or Water Foreman Ken Howard at (708) 444-5500.
Water/Sewer Improvement Projects
The Village of Tinley Park is making a $16 million investment to its water and sewer infrastructure. In addition to the $6.2 million in ARPA funds, the Village is also including an additional $10 million through a bond that is fully funded by current revenue sources. This unprecedented investment will address not only outdated water and sewer infrastructure, but also invest in critical needs for the Village’s future economic development.
The Village will be investing in the reconstruction of a current sanitary liftstation and the construction of a new liftstation. The larger of these two projects will be the tear down and reconstruction on Post 5, which is located at the corner of 171st Street and 80th Avenue. Post 5 was originally constructed nearly 35 years ago, and close to 70% of all the Village’s sewage flows to this station before being pumped out to MWRD’s interceptor st 175th Street and Ridgeland Avenue. The construction of this station will safeguard a critical function of the sewer infrastructure for the Village’s long-term future.
Additionally, a new sanitary liftstation will be constructed along the LaGrange Road corridor. This new station will address the current restrictions for the un-development land along LaGrange Road between 179th and 183rd streets, while providing added incentive for future economic growth in the area. The Village also will be investing in roughly 5,200 feet of water main replacement throughout various locations in town. Or, in the case of LaGrange Road, water main installation in undeveloped areas. There will also be construction of a new water booster station, along with the installation of several pressure control valves, that will increase the flow and volume of water throughout the west side of the Village.
These are the current projects the Village is working on to improve Tinley Park's water and sewer infrastructure.
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The three central causes of frozen pipes are quick drops in temperature, poor insulation and thermostats set too low. You can prepare your home during the warmer months.
- Before winter hits, disconnect garden hoses and, if possible, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.
- A trickle of hot and cold water might be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing. Let warm water drip overnight, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall.
- Keep your thermostat set at the same temperature during both day and night. You might be in the habit of turning down the heat when you're asleep, but further drops in the temperature - more common overnight - could catch you off guard and freeze your pipes.
- Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to un-insulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls.
What if your pipes still freeze, despite your best preventive measures? First step: Don't panic. Just because they're frozen doesn't mean they've already burst. Here's what you can do:
- If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call a plumber.
- Do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water. You could be electrocuted.
- Never try to thaw a pipe with a torch or other open flame because it could cause a fire hazard. Water damage is preferable to burning down your house!
- You may be able to thaw a frozen pipe using a hair dryer. Start by warming the pipe as close to the faucet as possible, working toward the coldest section of pipe.
- If your water pipes have already burst, turn off the water at the main shutoff valve in the house; leave the water faucets turned on. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the water shutoff valve is and how to open and close it.
Village to deliver utility delinquency notices via post office
The Village will no longer deliver utility delinquency notices in person in an effort to reduce technician contact. Instead, the Village will deliver these notices via postal service, which will decrease notification time as well. Utility delinquency notices will come in utility bill format printed on pink paper highlighting that it is a delinquency notice showcasing outstanding balances. Payment instructions will be included. If you have any questions, please call the Tinley Park Public Works Department at (708) 444-5500.
Disconnect hoses to prevent damage
The Tinley Park Public Works Department would like to remind residents that they should disconnect hoses from outside spigots. Leaving hoses hooked up could cause damage to the outside spigots or, in some cases, the inside plumbing. With dropping temperatures, any water left in hoses could freeze and expand into the spigot and possibly into the piping beyond the spigot. Read this WikiHow article for more information.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) requires every water supply to develop and implement a cross connection (backflow prevention) control program. A requirement of the program is to send a survey to all residential water customers every two years. Visit the Village website for more information on water backflow assembly.
Lawn Sprinkler and Commercial RPZ Certification
Every drinking water system in Illinois must have a cross connection control program, more commonly known as a backflow prevention program. Backflow prevention is designed to protect the public water supply from contamination from non-drinkable sources. Backflow prevention devices are required on all commercial and residential properties where contamination hazards exist. These devices must be maintained and tested annually to ensure that they are working properly.
The State of Illinois requires that every backflow device be inspected annually by a certified backflow tester, and every city that operates a public water system is responsible for making sure that this is done. The Village of Tinley Park has contracted with Backflow Solutions Inc. (BSI) to manage the City’s backflow inspection program.
BSI has experience managing similar programs for municipalities across the country, including many in the Chicago area. BSI will serve as the primary point of contact for backflow inspections within the Village of Tinley Park and can be contacted through their website at www.bsionline.com. If you have any additional questions, please call the Public Works Department at (708) 444-5500.
Sewer Blockage Tips