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1. Do I need a water softener?

Adding a water softener would be a personal preference but not necessary. At the Water Facility, the Village softens the water to a soft to moderately hard level (7 to 9 grains of hardness). Water that is too soft makes it difficult to remove soap from your hands, hair and detergent from your laundry. Also, soft water can be aggressive to your plumbing and fixtures while hard water can lead to excessive scaling of pipes and fixtures.

2. Does The Village of Carpentersville add fluoride to the water supply?

Yes, fluoride is added so that the level in the drinking water is 0.6 to 0.8 milligrams per liter as required by the Illinois Department of Public Health for dental health.

3. My water is suddenly rusty, What should I do?

If your water appears rusty all of a sudden, it is probably due to work being done in the area. They may be isolating valves to do emergency repairs, or opening a hydrant. This can stir up iron sediment in the water main. The rusty water is harmless and will clear up all by itself within a couple hours. Do not do any laundry and avoid using water if possible. Running the water in your faucet will not make this clear faster.

4. Who should I contact if I have a question about water pressure or a water leak?

During normal working hours, please call the Water Division at 847-551-3492. For after hours emergencies, please call Quad Com 847-428-8784 who will contact the on call person.

5. Why do I have low pressure at one sink, but it seems fine at others?

This is often caused by debris that gets caught in the sink’s aerator (the part that screws to the end of faucet, where the water comes out). The debris is usually pipe scale, hardness build-up or debris left from initial construction. To remedy this problem, try unscrewing the aerator and cleaning out the screens, these normally can be removed for a more thorough cleaning. New aerator assemblies are also available at any hardware store.

6. Water service connection - what are the property owner's responsibilities?

The Water Department only maintains the water meter inside the home or business. All plumbing and related valves are the owner's responsibilities. Contact the Water Department for more information.

7. Are there any watering restrictions?

Currently The Village of Carpentersville has no water restrictions.

8. Who should I contact if I have a question about my water bill?

The Utility Billing Office 847-551-3476 can assist you with questions about your bill and payment options.

9. Why does my water smell like rotten eggs?

If your water smells like rotten eggs, it may be time to replace the anode rod found within your water heater.  Water can contain anaerobic bacteria which reacts to the anode rod's magnesium and aluminum material.  This reaction produces hydrogen sulfide gas or the classic "rotten eggs" smell.  Anode rods can be purchased at most hardware stores and if you have questions on replacement, seek assistance from your local plumbing company.  Plumbers will have all the necessary tools and expertise to complete the replacement or answer any questions that you have concerning your water heater.

Please note that this smell is not to be confused with a gas leak which also mimics a rotten egg smell.  If you suspect that you may have a gas leak, immediately leave the premises, notify emergency responders at 911, and call Nicor Gas at 888-642-6748.