Q: Is it all right to prune my parkway tree?
A: Homeowners should not attempt to prune parkway trees. As parkway trees are in the Village right-of-way, they are the responsibility of Public Works. These trees are trimmed to specific specifications. The Village has contractors who trim trees as well as our in-house staff. If a homeowner would like his/her professional to trim their parkway tree at their expense they must contact Public Works at 847.317.7245 for permission.

Q: When should I water?
A: Generally speaking, trees require one inch of water per week When in leaf, either from rain or homeowner. Set a hose to trickle over the area within the drip line and move the hose periodically to cover as much of the root zone as possible. Care must be taken not to over water trees, as too much water can kill the tree as well.

Q: Who should I contact if my parkway tree looks sick or dead?
A: Contact Public Works at 847.317.7245 to have the Village to check out any problems with parkway trees and perform any remedy required.

Q: Can I put too much mulch around my tree?
A: Yes, any more than 2 to 3 inches prevents water from getting to the roots of the tree. Also, do not mound the mulch or dirt around the trunk of the tree. This can make the tree vulnerable to diseases and insects. An alternative is to saucer the mulch or dirt around the tree to help capture water.

Q: Where does my drinking water come from?
A: The Village of Deerfield purchases its water from the City of Highland Park, whose water treatment facility collects and processes from Lake Michigan. Processed water is then pumped to one of 4 places; one of three reservoirs or one elevated tank. From there, it is pumped into the water distribution system.

Q: How safe is my drinking water?
A: The water supplied to the Village of Deerfield is very safe as it must meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's standards for safe drinking water.

Q: Should I buy bottled water?
A: You don't need to buy bottled water for health reasons; Deerfield's drinking water meets all of the Federal and State drinking water standards. Bottled water may have a slightly different taste than tap water, but it costs up to 1,000 times more than municipal drinking water. In emergencies, bottled water can be a vital source of drinking water if water service is lost. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires bottled water quality standards to be equal to those of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for tap water, but the quality of the finished product is not government-monitored.

Q: Can I test my own water at home?
A: Not in a meaningful way. Simple kits are available to test for hardness and some chemicals like chlorine and lead, but a thorough analysis is not possible. The Water Department provides information on water quality, published in our annual drinking water quality report. (May/June issue of the Village's newsletter) Any questions about water quality should be directed to the Water Department at 847.317.7245.

Q: What is the hardness of the water?
A: On average the water hardness is approximately 7 to 8 grains or 134 parts per million.

Q: Periodically, my water tastes and smells funny. Why does this occur?
A: The most common reasons for taste and odor problems with drinking water include chlorine that is added to the water to kill bacteria; Non-toxic algae, bacteria, and tiny fungi grow in surface water sources and give off non toxic, smelly chemicals that cause unpleasant tastes in drinking water. Different algae cause different tastes and odors, for example a grassy, swampy taste. The tiny fungi can cause an earthy musty taste; and Metallic tastes can come from iron rust in iron pipes. Odor poses no health impact and is strictly aesthetic.

Q: What can I do about these taste and odor problems?
A: In-home water filtration systems that employ activated carbon can help reduce or eliminate these tastes and odors. If you purchase such a unit, please remember that it is very important to follow the manufacturer's instructions with respect to maintenance. In addition, cooling water in your refrigerator can help.

Q: Who should I contact if I have questions about my water?
A: Any questions about water or water quality should be directed to the Water Department at 847.317.7245.

Q: Who should I contact if I have questions about my water bill?
A: Any questions about your water bill should be directed to the Finance Department at 847.945.5000.

Q: Why do I have sprinkling restrictions and when are they?
A: The Illinois Division of Water Resources requires that municipalities using Lake Michigan water restrict lawn sprinkling between May 15th and September 15th. Accordingly Deerfield's restrictions during this period are as follows: Even numbered addresses may sprinkle on even numbered days from midnight to noon and from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. Odd numbered addresses may sprinkle on odd numbered days from midnight to noon and from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. Sprinkling is not allowed for anyone between the hours of noon to 6:00 p.m. Fines for violators are $25 per occurrence for residential properties, and $100 for non-residential properties. These restrictions apply only to lawn sprinkling. Newly sodded areas of lawns may be watered at any time on any day for the two (2) week period following the installation of such sod.

Q: What is the Village's first step in snow removal?
A: Public works utilizes over 20 pieces of equipment during the winter for snow removal. When the snow starts to fall our salt trucks are the first to respond

Q: When does Public Works use salt trucks?
A: If less than 2 or 3 inches fall the salt trucks alone are used for snow removal and control. We use 3000 to 4000 tons of salt every year to help keep the streets safe.

Q: Where does Public Works distribute salt?
A: Public Works distributes salt on all major streets and feeder streets. The rest of the streets receive salt at intersections, stop signs, curves and hills.

Q: How does Public Works determine where snow removal equipment will be utilized?
A: When approximately 2-3 inches of snow has fallen the remainder of the snow equipment is called out and put into service. The Village does not have enough equipment to make sure every street is kept clear of snow during the duration of the storm though through careful planning and with dedicated staff, snow operations will continue until every street has been cleared. We have 1 sidewalk plow which is used to clear sidewalks around schools and along Deerfield and Waukegan Roads.

Q: What is the best way to clear snow from my driveway?
A: : Shovel as much of the snow from your driveway as possible to the right side as you look out to the street. Snow on the left side could be pushed back into the driveway by Public Works snow plows. Be a good neighbor, if you have a plow service make sure they know where to push the snow so it won't end up in your neighbor's yard or driveway.

Q: During Winter when may I park my vehicle on the street?
A: By village ordinance you cannot park your vehicle on the street for 24 hours after 3 inches of snow has fallen or deposit snow from your property on the street or sidewalk.

Q: How and when does Public Works repair snow plow damage?
A: Public works repairs snow plow damage with black dirt and seed. This is generally performed in early spring when the threat of snow is less likely. Contact Public Works if damage was caused by Village plows. After dirt and seed is put down, homeowner is responsible for maintenance.

Q: How can I keep my mailbox from being damaged as a result of the winter weather?
A: Mailboxes are the responsibility of homeowners to maintain in good condition and in the right location. A mailbox knocked down in a snow storm it is almost always from the weight of the snow and not from the plow making contact with it. Make sure your support posts are not rotting or rusting away and that they are securely fastened.

Q: Where should I place my mailbox?
A: The face of your mailbox should be at least 1 foot behind the curb.

Q: How often does the Village sweep the streets?
A: Public works has 1 street sweeper to sweep approximately 180 miles of streets. It takes approximately 9 to 14 days to sweep all the streets in the Village. During the sweeping season, which is generally March through November, every attempt is made to sweep every residential street at least once.

Q: Who do I contact if my street sign needs to be replaced?
A: If you are aware of a sign that needs to be replaced, please contact Public Works at 847.317.7245.

Q: What causes potholes?
A: Most potholes develop during the freeze/thaw cycles during the winter and early spring months. Potholes can also be caused by a weakened road base from moisture and heavy vehicle traffic.

Q: What material does Public Works use to repair potholes?
A: Public Works uses high performance asphalt which can be used at any time of year to repair potholes. Street openings, such as sewer repairs or water main repairs, are repaired using hot mix asphalt which is not available during the colder weather.

Q: When is leaf removal?
A: Leaf removal is performed during the 4 weeks prior to the week of Thanksgiving. The dates are available on the Village's web site and in the September/October edition of the Village newsletter, D-Tales.

Q: How do I dispose of my leaves?
A: Leaves can be disposed of in a number of ways. Rake the leaves to the curb in a long neat pile, approximately 4 feet wide, for Public Works vacuum machines to collect. Please do not place the leaves in the street or on carriage walks or sidewalks. Do not rake grass clippings, sticks, rocks, branches or mud to the curb with your leaves. These materials clog and damage the equipment used for collecting leaves. If these items are found, the leaves will not be removed. You can also place the leaves in paper yard waste bags for Veolia to collect with the weekly yard waste pickup. A landscape waste sticker must be affixed or else the bags will not be collected. You may also have your landscaper take the leaves away to a waste site.

Q: Who should I contact if I notice a burned out or damaged light pole?
A: Streetlights on wooden poles are owned by ComEd and should be reported to ComEd at 800.344.7661 or 800.EDISON 1. Public Works will report the request if you call 847.317.7245. Lights on concrete poles are generally the responsibility of Public Works and should be reported to Public Works at 847.317.7245. When a street light outage is not a burned out bulb, it might be an underground fault. Public Works may have to dig, which may lengthen the amount of time to make proper repairs.

Q: What type of sewers does the Village have?
A: The Village has storm sewers and sanitary sewer systems.

Q: What function do storm sewers provide?
A: Storm sewers are designed to collect and direct storm water to storage areas or to creeks. Storm water is not treated. You should never pour unwanted chemicals or other foreign substances in the storm sewer.

Q: What function do sanitary sewers provide?
A: Sanitary Sewers provide direct waste pumping stations that pump to the treatment plant for treatment and discharge to the West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River

Q: Who is responsible for the sanitary services?
A: Section 16-7 of the Municipal Code states that all repairs and maintenance of the services lines from the public sewer, including the connection to the public sewer, to the premises served and in the sanitary sewer system of the building served shall be made by and at the expense of the owners of the premises served.

Q: Who do I contact if there is a sewer back up in my home?
A: Always contact the Public Works Department first at 847.317.7245 (M-F 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM). After 3:30, call the non-emergency number for the Deerfield Police Department at 847.945.8636 and they will direct your call to the Sewer Department.

Q: Why is there an odor coming from my floor drain?
A: Usually this occurs in the winter time as the trap in the floor drain dries out, allowing the sewer odor to enter the house. To fix the problem, add water to the floor drain and the smell should go away. If this method doesn't work, contact the Public Works Sewer Department at 847.317.7245 for further assistance.

Q: What happens to sewage after we flush?
A: Sewage is pumped to the Deerfield Wastewater Reclamation facility. The sewage is treated and disinfected and discharged into the West Fork North Branch of the Chicago River. In many cases, the discharged water is cleaner than the water in the river.

Q: What facilities are at the Treatment Plant?
A: The Deerfield Wastewater Treatment Plant consists of grit handling, primary settling, trickling filters, activated sludge, secondary clarifiers and disinfection facilities. In addition, for sludge handling, we have anaerobic digesters, aerobic digesters and sludge drying beds. We also have excess flow facilities, which include settling basins, disinfection and a storage lagoon. This facility is located on a ten acre site.

Q: What does the Village do with treated sludge?
A: After sludge digestion and drying on our sludge drying beds, sludge is stockpiled on site. Once a year, the Village contracts with a licensed sludge hauler, who finds farm fields for land application of the sewage sludge. This is why it is important to flush only human waste to the treatment plant.

Q: What should not be flushed?
A: The following should not be flushed: Oil, hazardous material, medications, plastics, elastic material or towels/clothing, and large amounts of grease.

Q: Is the treatment plant regulated?
A: Yes. The Village has permits to treat and discharge to the waters of the State of Illinois. This federal program is called the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System and is administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). Our treatment plant and three bypass storm treatment facilities have separate permits. The IEPA has the right to inspect our facilities and sample at any time.

Q: What can I do to minimize cost for this utility?
A: Do not place home footing drains/sump pumps and roof drains to the sanitary sewers. When rain events occur in Deerfield, dramatic increases in flow occur at the treatment plant. This water which did not need to be treated is pumped, aerated and disinfected at significant expense to the Village for electricity and chemicals.

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