Conserve and Manage Water
Conserving water usage and managing how water flows from our properties both protects the availability and purity of this life-sustaining resource, along with reducing the environmental pollutants and greenhouse gases associated operating our municipal fresh water, storm water, and waste water management systems. Please visit these sites to learn more and what you can do:
Check for Leaks
The Village of River Forest is excited to introduce WaterSmart, a free online customer portal where you can see your water use, get leak alerts, and more. This service will enable you to manage your water use and bill - all part of the Village's ongoing "smart city" advancements. We encourage you to get started by logging on to the WaterSmart Portal here.
Order a Rain Barrel
Rain barrels are a great way to capture and store rainwater coming off a roof. Rain barrels consist of a plastic storage container, a system for diverting downspout water into the barrel, and an overflow that returns to the downspout or diverts water safely away from the house.
Water from rain barrels can be used to water your lawn, garden or household plants and reduces stormwater runoff, thereby reducing the strain on our combined sewer system during major storm events.
Click here to learn more about Rain Barrels and to order yours.
Village Initiatives
Green Alleys
In the Spring of 2023, This Spring the Village of River Forest completed reconstruction of all Village alleys, a project which began in 2021. The Village has a total of 32 alleys; each alley been reconstructed with some portion of permeable materials, which are porous and allow rain runoff to filter more slowly — effectively mitigating stormwater impacts on nearby properties. These projects are often referred to as Green Alleys because the permeable pavers divert water from going into the Village’s stormwater system, helping instead to sustainably recharge groundwater. The reconstructed alleys contain concrete pavement sloped inward toward an approximately three-foot wide strip of permeable pavers along the alley centerline continues to be utilized throughout the Village. The pavers allow stormwater runoff to be conveyed to a stone reservoir underneath the pavement to help reduce flooding. There is also a perforated pipe within the stone reservoir which helps convey stormwater away from the alley during periods of excessive rainfall. The final alleys are being completed with the help of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago in the form of a $90,000 grant as part of their Green Infrastructure Partnership Program.
Automated Meter Infrastructure
The Automated Metering Infrastructure will significantly reduce water loss throughout the Village. The technology helps promote overall water conservation and will reduce the Village's carbon emissions, as drive-by reads will no longer be required. Learn about the Village's Automated Metering Infrastructure here.