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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Village pruning my tree?

Pruning trees is done to remove any dead branches that may fall, promote the tree's health, and improve the tree's appearance.

What happens when my parkway tree dies?

When a parkway tree dies, Public Works crews will remove the tree in the winter and the tree stump the following spring.

How can I get a tree planted in the parkway?

The Village of Lincolnwood offers a 50/50 cost share parkway tree planting program every fall and spring for residents who would like to have a tree(s) planted in the parkway adjacent to their property.

There is a street/traffic sign in my yard.

Street and traffic signs are needed to inform everyone of their location, potential hazards, speed limits, and regulatory intersections such as a stop. Without these signs, our valued residents, their guests, and other visitors to the Village would be unable to navigate Village streets safely and informed. We make every effort when replacing and erecting these signs to place them on existing sign poles, light poles, or on the property lines to have as little inconvenience as possible. On some occasions, though, we are unable to do this. Because of site restrictions, utility proximity, height or distance regulations we may be required to place them on a separate pole in the Right-of-Way in the front of the house.

My streetlight is out.

We strive to keep all of the Village lights working to keep all neighborhoods safe and passable for the enjoyment of everyone. With the great amount of lights in the Village, we are unable to keep track of all the lights that may need repair without the assistance of our concerned residents. If you know of a streetlight that needs repair, please call the Public Works Facility at (847) 675-0888 to report its outage and it will then be put on a repair list. We will make every effort to have it working within one week of the call, weather permitting. Some lights may require more extensive work and require a longer time of repair, depending on the problem related to it.

Commenwelth Edison is responsible for streetlights on the wooden light poles, residents can call ComEd at 1-800-Edison1 or Public Works at (847) 675-0888 to have these lights repaired.

Trash/debris and dead animals are in the roadway.

We attempt to keep the Village free from items such as trash and debris in the roadway to display the high quality of life its residents enjoy. But with our busy roadways comes the unfortunate residual of items in the roadway to be collected. Along with this trash and debris in the roadway are, unfortunately, the habits of our woodland friends attempting to search for food or find other shelter. We regret that sometimes our friends are unsuccessful in their attempts at crossing the road. If you notice or are aware of any such items, please contact Public Works at (847) 675-0888 and we will remove them as soon as possible.

There are paint marks in the right-of-way.

Paint marks indicate that there will be some type of excavation or repair within that area. This excavation area should be marked in white paint unless it will be too extensive to do so. All underground excavating or repairs are required by law to have these locates before they can be performed. This is called the J.U.L.I.E. LOCATE SYSTEM (1-800-892-0123). The J.U.L.I.E. LOCATES show where all the utilities are located before excavation begins so the work can be performed safely and without disruption to utility services. Calling for these locates first applies to everyone: the Village, private contractors, and residents wishing to perform underground work in their yard. If you see anyone excavating without these locates, please contact the Village Building Department at (847) 673-7402  to report this illegal operation.

The color meanings for these paint marks are as follows:

Electric: Fire Protection Red

Communication, Phone, TV: Alert Orange

Potable Water: Precaution Blue

Sewer: Safety Green

Reclaimed Water: Safety Purple

Proposed Area of Excavation: Safety White

Gas: Yellow

There was work done in the Right-of-Way (R.O.W.). What happens now?

Work performed in the R.O.W. by the Village could have been performed for a variety of reasons, such as a sidewalk repair, storm or sanitary sewer repair, curb repair, catch basin repair, water main break, or an underground streetlight repair. We try to have all excavations repaired within two weeks, providing the weather cooperates and allows us to do so. Depending on the depth of the excavation, it may be required to let the excavation "settle" for an extended period of time. Without doing this, there will be a greater chance of having to do a return trip to redress and reseed the area after it has settled again. We ask that the homeowner water the restoration area to encourage growth of the seed. This will increase the chances of the restoration having a vigorous growth to restore the yard back to its natural beauty.

What should I do if my basement backs up with sewage?

Lincolnwood residents are encouraged to contact the Public Works Department--before they contact a plumber--any time they experience a basement back-up. A Public Works employee will conduct an inspection to determine if the back-up is a result of a problem in the Village's main line sewer or in the private building sewer service line. If a blockage occurred in the Village's main line sewer, the Public Works Department will correct the problem, which should also relieve the basement back-up. However, if the Village's main line sewer is properly functioning, the resident will be notified that the blockage is in the private building sewer service line. The Lincolnwood Village Code indicates that the property owner is responsible for maintaining the private building sewer service line from the building to the Village's main line sewer.

By contacting Public Works first, the resident will save the cost of hiring a plumber in the event that the blockage causing the basement back-up was in the Village's main line sewer. Please contact Public Works at (847) 675-0888 any time you experience a basement backup.

My cold water just started looking cloudy and dirty. What is going on?

Occasionally open fire hydrants can cause some rust and scale products, which normally adhere to the inside of the water mains, to break away. This sediment disturbance may cause water to appear cloudy or dirty. Water main repair or construction can also cause this temporary inconvenience. If this condition occurs in your system, allow the cold-water tap to run until the water clears. This should occur within five minutes. If the condition persists, call the Lincolnwood Public Works Department at (847) 675-0888.

What causes the tiny air bubbles in my water?

This condition occurs most often when water is very cold and then warms up while in a building's interior piping. Cold water can hold more air than warm water. Therefore, some air comes out of solution as tiny air bubbles when the water warms up. At times, the water may be so densely filled with air that the water appears cloudy. An easy way to check the cause of cloudiness is to fill a clear glass with the water, set it on a table, and watch. If the cloud rises from bottom to top, it is air escaping as the water warms. If the cloud sinks from the top to the bottom, you may have a sediment problem.

Why does the water have a chlorine taste or smell? What can I do to remove it?

Chlorine is the disinfecting agent used by most public water systems to kill bacteria during the water treatment process. A small amount is left in the water right up to your tap to inhibit microbial growth in the piping. This amount can vary with the time of year and the condition of raw Lake Michigan water.

To remove the chlorine taste or smell, fill a clean pitcher or container with cold tap water and leave it uncovered overnight in the refrigerator. The chlorine content will dissipate.

Is my water safe to drink?

Yes. The Village of Lincolnwood meets all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's standards for safe drinking water.

My water is reddish or brown. What causes this?

Drinking water pipes--in the street, leading to your home, or in your home--may be rusting, creating rusty-brown water. Also, your hot water tank may be rusting. If you are having trouble and your neighbors are not, then your own pipes or water heater are probably rusting. Letting the water run for a while will often clear the water (save the rusty water for plants). If the problem persists, call Public Works at (847) 675-0888.

Is it okay to use hot water from the tap for cooking?

No. Use cold water. Hot water is more likely to contain rust, copper, and lead from your household plumbing and water heater because these contaminants generally dissolve into hot water from the plumbing faster than into cold water.

What activity in my home uses the most water?

Typical percentages of water for a family of four are:

Toilet flushing: 40%             Dishwashing: 6%      Bath and shower: 32%

Cooking and drinking: 5%    Laundry: 14%            Bathroom sink: 3%

How can I check if my toilet tank is leaking?

Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, wait about 15 minutes, and look in the bowl. If the food coloring shows up there, the tank is leaking and should be fixed.

How do I have my water turned off in the event of an emergency?

Contact the Public Works Department at (847) 675-0888, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours call the police department at (847) 673-2167.

Are there watering restrictions?

Annual watering restrictions are in effect from May 15 through September 15 and are as follows.

Residents with newly seeded or sodded yards may be issued a special permit by Public Works for watering up to 14 consecutive days.