FAQs

What do I do if I have maintenance on a water service line?: After any repair or other work is done to the water service to your home, please take the following steps as recommended by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) to minimize your exposure to any lead that may have been released.

Flush all your faucets using these steps:
- Remove faucet aerators from all cold water taps in the home.
- Beginning in the lowest level of the home, run the cold water full force at all taps, making sure the drain is clear.
- Let the water run for a least 30 minutes at the last tap you opened (top floor)
- Turn off each tap starting with the taps in the highest level of the home. Be sure to run water in bathtubs and showers as well as faucets.
- Do not consume tap water, run hot water faucets, or use an ice maker or filtered water dispenser until after flushing is complete. If you have a filtered water dispenser, replace the filter after flushing.

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Water Quality Information

1. What can residents do to minimize lead exposure in drinking water?: - Use only cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula (cold water is less likely than hot water to leach metal from pipes and fittings). - Any time there has not been water use for several hours, residents should run their cold water faucet until the water gets as cold as is typical for that faucet. If there has been recent heavy water use, such as showering or laundry, this could take as little as five to thirty seconds. Otherwise, it could take two minutes or longer. The goal is to get to fresh water that has not been sitting in your household pipes or service line for a long time period, and every house is different. - Install a lead filter on the principle potable water faucets used in your home, particularly if you are pregnant or have children under age six.

2. What do I do if I have maintenance on a water service line?: After any repair or other work is done to the water service to your home, please take the following steps as recommended by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) to minimize your exposure to any lead that may have been released.

Flush all your faucets using these steps:
- Remove faucet aerators from all cold water taps in the home.
- Beginning in the lowest level of the home, run the cold water full force at all taps, making sure the drain is clear.
- Let the water run for a least 30 minutes at the last tap you opened (top floor)
- Turn off each tap starting with the taps in the highest level of the home. Be sure to run water in bathtubs and showers as well as faucets.
- Do not consume tap water, run hot water faucets, or use an ice maker or filtered water dispenser until after flushing is complete. If you have a filtered water dispenser, replace the filter after flushing.

3. How will I know if lead is in my drinking water?: Residents concerned about lead in the water may wish to have their water tested. The Village of Northbrook does not provide lead testing to its residents. However, a list of local IEPA-certified laboratories can be found at this link: www.northbrook.il.us/lead.
Water Testing Laboratories are available locally.