Village of Riverwoods, Illinois

The Village has installed a municipal water system primarily through the use of Special Service Areas to provide Lake Michigan water to a majority of Village residents. A large minority of residents continues to rely on private wells for their water either living in an area not served by the Village water system or choosing not to hook up to the system. The Village draws its water from Lake Michigan through an intergovernmental agreements with Northbrook and Deerfield and uses Swanson Water to provide routine service and system maintenance. The primary and continuing goals of the Water Department, is:

People may think because of our namesake, we have an endless abundance of water - but think again. Increased population growth is placing demands on our future water supply. Whether your community gets its water from Lake Michigan or if your community uses ground water, planning for your future water supply is becoming increasing important. Learn more about the State of Lake County's Water Supply and Lake County's Water Resources Planning efforts to ensure Lake County has an adequate, sustainable supply of safe water in the future.

Don't be a water waster! Here are some things you can do:

Don't over-water your lawn. Lawns only need watering once every 5 to 7 days in the summer. A hearty rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks. Check with your local municipality or Lake County Public Works to find out about the watering restrictions in your area.
Avoid over-fertilizing your lawn. The application of fertilizers increases the need for water and is a source of water pollution.
Use a rain barrel connected to your downspout to cut down your water bill and do something good for the environment. It has few contaminants and is perfect for watering the garden.
Appliances use as much as 40% of household water and provide the greatest opportunity for water savings. If you have an older dishwasher, water heater, clothes washing machine or other aging appliances, consider purchasing new water efficient appliances. Look for the WaterSense label to choose quality, water-efficient products. For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/watersense/.