- water supply and treatment
- water distribution, wastewater collection
- wastewater treatment
- meter reading services
for approximately 6,700 customers throughout the City
of Geneva.
Geneva's water and wastewater utilities are managed
by employing a state of the art computer system and
modern technology in concert with a philosophy that
places a high priority on environmental stewardship.
Such a high standard has been instrumental in maintaining
Geneva's highly desirable quality of life and environmental
amenities.
Annual Water Quality Report
Industrial Survey
Water and Sewer Rates
2009 Overhead Sewer Grant Project
2008 NPDES Storm Water Report
The City of Geneva is proud to announce...
Geneva awarded Best Water in Kane County
2010!
For the second year in a row the City of Geneva has been voted the Best Drinking Water in Kane County. On December 17, 2010 seven municipal water supplies competed for the best tasting drinking water in Kane County. Four independent judges picked Geneva as the Best for 2010!
WATER IN THE NEWS
A recent article in the Chicago Tribune and other media reported that high levels of chromium have been found in Chicago-area tap water. This has prompted several calls to the City of Geneva Water Department. The City of Geneva, like other communities in the Chicago area, is not required to test for hexavalent chromium by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The article in the Tribune states that the results of the lab tests which found hexavalent chromium in tap water, was tested from Lake Michigan water. The City of Geneva treats its water from deep and shallow wells located in the City of Geneva. Because of the concerns raised in this article, The City of Geneva Water Department decided to test for hexavalent chromium in its drinking water. The result of the test was that hexavalent chromium was not detected in Geneva’s tap water. Many of these unregulated substances, including pharmaceutical drugs and industrial chemicals, could pose challenges for communities in the future. The decision by City Staff and Elected Officials to treat the raw water with Reverse Osmosis technology is an investment seen today as well as the ability to meet the future regulations.
Water Treatment Facility
Is in Operation
The new Water Treatment Facility is producing water for the residents and businesses of the City of Geneva !
WHAT IS DIFFERENT?
-
Hardness reduced - The hardness in the water prior to the new facility was roughly 30 grains or 500+ milligrams per liter (mg/l). Hardness at this level is considered to be on the extreme side of the scale. The compounds that create hardness in the water come from naturally occurring mineral deposits in both the shallow and deep aquifers from which we get our water. These levels are not uncommon for our area. The new facility is producing water with a hardness level of between 4 to 7 grains or around 120 mg/l. We do not lower the hardness to zero because to do so would require us to remove the majority of the dissolved minerals in the water, which would be corrosive
to both the distribution system and the plumbing in your home.
-
Radium levels will be reduced - Notices of high radium levels have been going out to residents of the City of Geneva for several years as directed by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Radium is a naturally occurring radioactive element that is present in the deep aquifer. The new facility will be producing water with radium levels well below the regulatory standards.
-
Better tasting water - Some people like me who have lived in this area all their life like the taste of hard water. But if you come from another area of the country or are used to Lake Michigan water, there is a significant taste difference. In addition to removing hardness though, the RO membranes remove a good portion of other dissolved minerals in the water, which can contribute to better tasting water. This technology is used by many bottled water providers to purify the water before bottling. With our new treatment facility, we will be blending water from the RO system with a small percentage of well water that does not go through the RO system to add minerals back into the water. By doing this, the taste of our water will be similar to that of many bottled waters.
WHAT DO WE RECOMMEND YOU DO?
- For those of you that use a water softener, we suggest that you put your softener on "bypass mode". All water softeners should have this feature. This will allow you to use only City water. If you still wish to use your softener after you have had a chance to evaluate the City water, you will use significantly less salt because of the reduced hardness in the water.
TID BIT
- Will you still have to worry about rusty water? The new Water Treatment Facility will have more treatment involved to lower the iron levels in the water in order to protect the membrane filters. While there will be hardly any iron in the water, soluble or insoluble, there are still water mains throughout town that have iron deposits in them or are old in nature that could cause rusty water from time to time. It is our hope that by continuing our hydrant flushing program that the rusty water problems will become much less frequent.
- Please contact the Water Department with any questions or comments by calling (630) 232-1551 or by email at bvangyseghem@geneva.il.us
Sincerely;
Bob Van Gyseghem, Superintendent of Water and Wastewater.
In the Fall of 2002, the City of Geneva in cooperation
with Geneva Boy Scout Troop #37 implemented a pilot
program for stenciling and labeling storm drains on
the East Side of the Fox River. This program is intended
to promote storm water runoff awareness to the community
to reduce and eliminate pollutants from entering the
Fox River.
During this program, Volunteers are stenciling a fish
symbol with a “Dump No Waste” message next
to storm drains that go to our local creeks and rivers.
Because storm drains flow directly to nearby rivers
and streams, not to wastewater treatment plants, your
city street is really like a waterfront property and
everything rinsing off your roof, yard and driveway
goes to the river. Many people are unaware of this important
fact. Each year, people dump thousands of gallons of
used oil, antifreeze and other wastes into storm drains.
Stenciling will remind citizens to protect the river
from pollution that may kill fish and increase weed
and algae growth.
It comes from all of us! Rainwater runoff picks up street
litter, yard waste, excess lawn fertilizers and pesticides,
residue from oil leaks on streets and parking lots,
and sediment from construction sites. All together,
this adds up to more pollution than industry makes!
Its simple! Dump nothing down the storm drain you wouldn’t
swim in or drink.
- Use less fertilizer on lawns
- Avoid pesticides
- Compost garden trimmings
- Recycle used oil
- Wash your car on lawn, not driveway
- Pick up pet wastes
- Don’t litter
- Bring your leftover paint and pesticides to Household
Hazardous Waste collection days
The City of Geneva is looking for additional volunteer
groups to perform storm drain stenciling in other areas
of the City. If you think you or your group may be interested
in performing similar projects in Geneva, please contact Bob Van Gyseghem, Supt. of Water and Wastewater at (630)
232-1501. |
There
is a Fish on Your Street!!! 
But
why?