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1. What should I do if wastewater backs up in my home?

Call the Village first before engaging the services of a private plumber. The Utility Division of the Public Works Department will first determine the source of the backup / blockage.

2. If repairs related to wastewater backing up in my home are found to be necessary, are they my responsibility?

If the source of the backup / blockage is located in a Village-maintained public sewer line, it will be corrected by Village crews.

If the source of the backup/blockage is found to be in the private sanitary service line, you will be notified of its location and instructed to call a private plumbing service. All costs relating to repairs and maintenance of private sanitary service lines are the responsibility of the homeowner.

3. Whom should I call if water backs up in the street during a rainstorm?

Call the Village immediately. Most likely, the storm basins in the street are either covered with debris or possibly obstructed with silt from normal street runoff. Public Works crews will clear any obstructions found in order to restore proper drainage.

4. Can a parkway tree be removed if its roots are obstructing my sanitary service line?

A parkway tree may not be removed due to intrusion of tree roots in a private sanitary service line. Sanitary service lines, which have been intruded with tree roots, are considered defective and must be repaired.

All costs relating to repairs and maintenance of private sanitary service lines are the responsibility of the property owner.

5. Does the Village Public Works Department maintain all roadways located within the corporate limits of Wheeling?

No. The Street Division of the Public Works Department maintains approximately 65 miles of local streets. Two other governmental agencies maintain jurisdiction over roadways within the corporate limits of the Village. Responsibility for maintenance of these roadways, including snow removal and ice control operations, rests with the highway departments of each of these agencies.

They include:

Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
Phone: 847-705-4222
- Dundee Road (Route 68) Elmhurst Road (Route 83)
- Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21 / 45) McHenry Road (Route 83)
- Palatine Road Wolf Road
- Aptakisic Road

Cook County Highway Department
Phone: 847-827-1164
- Lake Cook Road Wheeling Road (south of Palatine Road)
- Schoenbeck Road Hintz Road
- Camp McDonald Road Buffalo Grove Road
- Old Buffalo Grove Road

6. Who is responsible for shoveling snow from sidewalks?

It is the responsibility of every owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or other person having charge of any building or lot of property in the Village abutting upon any public way or public place to remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of said building or lot of property.

7. Can I park my car on Village-maintained streets during snowfalls?

No parking is allowed on any Village street on which there is an accumulation of snow 2 or more inches in depth until plowing operations have been completed. Violators may be towed and fined.

8. Can I rake leaves into the street for collection by the Village?

The Public Works Department reminds residents not to deposit leaves into streets. Leaves intentionally raked into the street results in a clear and immediate detrimental impact on the Village’s storm sewer system. As we are all aware, rainfall during the fall season in our area is standard. Leaves deposited into the street will inevitably result – during periods of even relatively minor rainfall – in clogged storm sewer inlets and localized flooding. Correcting such problems takes significant man-hours and results in substantial added costs.

The Village’s existing contract with Waste Management – Northwest provides for alternative methods by which residents may dispose of leaves and other forms of yard waste. In addition to paper yard waste bags, residents may use plastic or metal garbage cans – the latter, of course, being emptied and returned to the resident for future use. Instead of the ongoing expense relating to the purchase of paper yard waste bags, residents may wish to make a one-time investment into one or more plastic and/or metal garbage cans for this use. The Village insisted on this provision in the contract and is one of only a few communities where such a disposal method is available.

Moreover, the Village eliminated the requirement of residents to purchase yard waste "stickers" for each bag/can of yard waste disposed. Again, the intent of the Village was to provide a program offering the greatest ease and least amount of inconvenience to its residents.

9. Who is responsible for the maintenance of streetlights?

Streetlights mounted on wooden poles are the responsibility of Commonwealth Edison (ComEd). The Village rents these lights from ComEd and is not authorized to undertake any repairs. To report a problem, please call 1-800-EDISON-1.

Streetlights mounted on metal or concrete poles may be the responsibility of the Village, unless privately owned and maintained. To report a problem, please contact the Public Works Department at 847-279-6900. You will be advised if the streetlight in question is Village maintained or privately owned.

10. Does the Village repair or replace driveway aprons?

No, unless it was specifically damaged by Village crews repairing / maintaining streets or other Village infrastructure or by firms under contract with the Village for various roadway, water main, storm and / or sanitary sewer work.

11. Are rear or side yard easements owned and maintained by the Village?

No. These are designated areas on private property reserved for legal right of access to utilities for crews and their equipment to perform required maintenance and repair work.

12. Why does my water often appear cloudy during colder periods of the year?

The cloudy appearance is simply air trapped in the water that dissipates when the water warms. It is not harmful and is completely safe to drink.

13. What can I do to prevent my water lines from freezing?

During unusually cold weather, it is important that you allow heated air in your home to come into contact with as much of your interior plumbing system as possible. If your water meter is in a closet, leave the door open and clear the immediate area around the meter of obstructions. The most effective measure you can take is to let four faucets slowly drip (not flow) to keep the water in your private service line (the line from the Village’s water main to your home) moving and, therefore, resistant to freeze.

If you think your water lines may be frozen, contact the Utility Division of the Public Works Department immediately at 847-279-6900, Monday - Friday between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., or at 847-459-2632 after normal hours.