Water and Sewer
Water and Sewer is billed quarterly and the amount is based
on water usage. Effective May 1, 2010 the cost of water will
increase from $3.70 per 100 cubic feet to $3.87. There will
be a change to the sewer rate of $0.60 per 100 cubic feet.
The combined rate for water and sewer will become $4.47 per
100 cubic feet.
Every household must have a $45.00 deposit on file for water
and sewer service. The deposit is billed on your first water
bill.
The Village's combined waterworks and sewerage system operations
are funded by revenues collected from quarterly water bills.
Expenditures include the purchase of water from the City of
Chicago, operation and maintenance of the water and sewer systems
as well as capital improvements to the systems.
You may pay your utility bill:
-
By Mail or In Person at:
Village of River Forest
400 Park Avenue
River Forest, IL 60305
-
Drive through white drop box outside of Village Hall
- Online - Click on the Pay Water Bill icon below:

- Automatic Payment
Plan (Enrollment Form)
Establishing Water/Sewer/Refuse Service
A Water/Sewer/Refuse Service Application must be completed
in order to establish water/sewer/refuse service. In accordance
with the Village’s Identity Theft Prevention Program,
government issued photo identification must be provided at
the time of application in order to verify the identity of
the customer. Residents may apply in person at the Village
Hall, 400 Park Avenue, or by faxing the application
form and proof of identity to (708) 366-3702.
Identity Theft Prevention Program
In order to comply with the Federal Fair and Accurate Credit
Transactions (FACT) Act of 2003, the Village has adopted
an Identity Theft Prevention Program. This program
requires customers
to provide identifying information in order to establish
an account with the village. The Program is in place
to help protect
customers, employees and the Village from problems associated
with or caused by the loss or misuse of sensitive information.
New customers requesting water/sewer/refuse service will
be required to produce government issued identification
and complete
an application in order to establish service. In addition,
all accounts will be monitored for activity that may
indicate identity theft.
Discontinuing Water/Sewer/Refuse Service
Please call the Village at (708) 366-8500 to discontinue
your service as soon as a closing or moving date
is available to
arrange for a final water meter reading. The final
water meter reading will be taken from the water
meter located
inside the
residence. A zoning inspection is also required
prior to the issuance of a real estate transfer stamp if
the property
is
being sold. Please be prepared to provide a forwarding
address and the name of the new resident.
Stormwater Best Management Practices
Implementation of stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP’s)
is now becoming recognized as an important part of the development
process throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Many of the
BMP’s recognize that local sewer systems cannot handle
additional load and are alternative solutions to the conventional
process of capturing stormwater and conveying it to the
local receiving sewer. An informational
brochure was developed by members of the
Water Issues Task Force, which is part of the Metropolitan
Mayors Caucus,
that contains some basic ideas on stormwater BMP’s that
could be distributed to local elected officials and planning
commissions to introduce the concept of stormwater BMP’s
to them.
The Village of River Forest has long recognized the need to
manage stormwater and have been aggressive in reducing stormwater
runoff from sites being redeveloped as part of the Planned
Development Process.
Protect Your Basements
Against Flooding - Additional Subsidies Approved in April 2010
The Village has funding available for
a program designed to help subsidize the installation of eligible
flood control improvements such as overhead sewers or backflow
prevention valves in River Forest. With backflow prevention,
buildings can be protected against the occasional backup of
the Village's combined sewer system. In the standard subsidy
program, property owners can receive a subsidy covering 50%
of the costs of eligible improvements up to a maximum reimbursement
amount of $4,000.
In addition to the standard subsidy program, the Village has
approved variable subsidies for the Program to Protect Basements.
This tiered subsidy program increases the subsidy levels for
certain properties located in high risk areas and high risk-limited
access areas. These variable subsidies, which are only available
for eligible properties, are as follows:
- High Risk Location: covers 80% of the costs of
eligible improvements up to a maximum reimbursement amount
of $6,000.00
- High Risk-Limited Access
Location: covers 80% of the costs of
eligible improvements up to a maximum reimbursement
amount of $7,500.00
If you have questions about the program,
subsidies, or application materials, click on the following
link or contact Public Works
at (708) 366-8500. Basement Protection
Program for the Village of River Forest (PDF File - 930KB)
Cross-Connection Control Devices
The Village’s cross-connection control device program is mandated by
the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Public Water Supplies,
to ensure that public water supply systems are adequately protected against
contamination originating from plumbing systems found within residential and
non-residential buildings. The program is designed to ensure that all residential
and non-residential buildings connected to the Village's water system are required
to have approved cross-connection control devices installed, do in fact have
them. Cross-connection control devices are sometimes referred to as backflow
prevention devices.
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