Frequently Asked Questions

The sewer tap is the physical connection point where the homeowner's sewer service line connects to the city municipal sewer line.

The service line serves a single user and connects your home to the city sewer. The maintenance and repair of the entire service line is the property owner's responsibility.

Municipal sewage includes sewage collected from residences, public buildings, industries, and commercial establishments. Municipal sewage is conveyed to a wastewater treatment facility.

The sanitary sewer system includes all public structures (pipes, lift stations, sewer lines and manholes) in the wastewater collection system designed to convey municipal sewage to a wastewater treatment facility. If a pipe conveys water which needs to be treated, it is a sanitary sewer.

Requests are prioritized based on three criteria: public health and/or safety, environmental impact, and severity of the problem requiring repair.

If you experience a sewer problem, please call Public Works at 708-352-2922 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. After hours of operation or on weekends/holidays, call the police department's non-emergency phone number at 708-352-2151. The Public Works supervisor will be notified.

Spills on private property or inside a private building are the responsibility of the property owner. The Village maintains its sewers on a regular basis but because there is no way to control inappropriate debris placed into the sewer, the Illinois Tort Immunity Act exempts the Village from fault of sewer backups when there is no knowledge of the blockage or negligence on the part of the Village.

Sewer pipes would benefit from rodding every 18 to 24 months depending on the maturity of trees and landscaping. It is recommended that multiple quotes be solicited with any size plumbing job. The Village does not recommend plumbing service companies.

Please call Public Works at 708-352-2922.