Who regulates the operation at the Wynstone Water Company?
Although the Wynstone Water Company is privately owned and funded, it serves a large enough population to be under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Environmental Agency (IEPA) to insure the quality of the water. We are periodically inspected and provide regularly scheduled sampling and testing to the IEPA. Several staff members have IEPA licenses to operate the water and sewer plant.
Is the Wynstone Water Company a for profit company?
No, the water company is owned by the community. The Board of Directors establishes an annual budget. Water rates are set so revenue is generated to cover the cost of operations, maintenance, and to fund the Reserves.
Is Wynstones Water Contaminated?
The raw water is contaminated with natural occurring Radium and Barium. The Ion Exchange Unit was built to remove these two contaminants from the water. This system was installed in 2008 to meet Illinois EPA regulation guidelines. The IEPA required Annual Water Quality Report is mailed to all residents yearly.
Do other communities have the same Radium and Barium contamination?
Yes, 77 communities in Illinois have a Radium which must be treated. Some of those communities also have Barium. Neighboring communities such as Lake Zurich that source their water from deep wells in the St. Peters and Ironton/Galesville aquafers have the same water composition as Wynstone. Click here for a comparison of water compositions of neighboring communities.
Is there Chlorine in the water?
Yes, there is chlorine in the water to provide disinfection and continued protection in the water mains. Chorine levels are tested daily to meet IEPA standards
Is there Fluoride in the water?
Yes, there is naturally occurring fluoride in the water which ranges from 0.8 mg/l to 1.2 mg/l. We do not add fluoride to the water.
Do we have lead in our water?
No, per IEPA regulation, we still test for it on a three year cycle. There are no lead water services in the Wynstone Community. The use of lead services ended by 1930. Lead in solder for copper pipes ceased in 1986. As long a licensed plumber is used for repairs and upgrades to your home there should be no fear of the use of lead solder.
What do we use to recharge the Ion Exchange Softeners with?
Wynstone recharges the Ion Exchange Softeners with Potassium Chloride. Potassium Chloride is said to be better for health reasons than Sodium Chloride. It is safe for the golf course turf we spray the reclaimed water on.
Do I need a water softener?
This is personal preference. Wynstone water is softened down to 4.69 grains of hardness. If a softer water with more soap performance is desired, a home softener can provide additional softening to almost 0 grains. Some people say that if the water is too soft it is hard to rinse away soap residue.
Why does the water in my house get cloudy in the spring for a short period?
We have had occurrences of cloudy water in a residence when the landscaper first activates the irrigation system in the Spring. After being idle all winter, turning on the irrigation system disturbs minerals that have come out of solution in your pipes. This may result in cloudy water until the system is flushed. Other than unappealing, this situation is not harmful.
Why do I see a white line or film in my pots if I boil Wynstone water?
All water contains minerals, when boiled, the heat will bring those minerals out of solution.
Why do my shower and faucet filters clog with white or light green scale?
This is usually due to hardness building up on the surface. Even softened water will leave this behind after a period of time. This is also due to minerals being pulled out of suspension by your hot water heater. Per manufacturer’s recommendations, water heaters need to be flushed every 3 to 6 months to remove minerals from the bottom of the tank. If flushing is not performed, minerals can travel through the rest of the water system and clog screens or coat surfaces. If they build up a thick layer on the bottom of the tank, heat transfer will be impeded costing more to heat the water.
Why does my whole house filter get so dirty?
Whenever water is filtered, minerals are removed from it. As the water makes the journey to its final destination, it picks up sediment and minerals into solution as well as leave things behind. This sediment and minerals may be in the water mains or even in your plumbing. A Small micron filter (fine filter) will remove all kinds of naturally occurring small particles including sand grains from the sand stone, minerals and iron. Iron usually stains things red. These items will not harm you, but removing them may give you peace of mind or possibly even change the taste. Water gets its taste from what it takes into solution.
Why do my RO filters turn red?
Reverse Osmosis filters pass water thru the membranes on the molecular level leaving almost everything else behind. Iron is one mineral that turns the filter red, however the potassium from the Ion Exchange is what also coats the filter red and ultimately plugs the filter.
Why do I see the maintenance crew flushing fire hydrants in the spring and fall?
No matter the source or treatment, regimen water still contains minerals that coat the interior of the underground pipes. Periodically the pipes need to be flushed out to remove this build up so that it does not create discolored water or give bacteria a place to grow.
Can we get Lake Michigan water?
The Village of Lake Zurich received a Lake Michigan water allocation from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), in January 2011. In 2012 the Village asked the engineering firm of AB&H Donohue Associates to investigate water suppliers that could provide Lake Michigan water. These agencies included:
- Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency (CLCJAWA)
- City of Highland Park
- City of Lake Forest
- Village of Northbrook
- Northern Lake County Lake Michigan Planning Group
- Northwest Water Commission (NWC)
The engineers determined NWC to have the resources and to be the most economical supplier for Lake Zurich. The Village estimates the cost to build a supply/distribution system is $43,000,000.00. Lake Zurich residents have not approved the funding to build the system.
Wynstone would have to consider several issues:
- costs to build a transmission system to transport the water
- potential water restrictions
- the IDNR would require us to shut down our wells, there is a cost to this
- we would only have a single source of water
In the event Lake Michigan water was available, Wynstone would still have to maintain the water distribution system to transport water to the residential homes and businesses.
What projects can I expect in the future for the Wynstone Water Plant?
In 2016 the WPOA engaged the services of Trotter and Associates Engineering to conduct a Master Facilities Plan. The report identified a five and twenty year plan for infrastructure improvements. The report can be viewed HERE. The Board has prioritized the following projects to be completed in the next couple of years:
| PROJECT |
YEAR |
| Replace Lift Stations B |
2018 |
| Install a new Comminutor, Vault, Flow Meter |
2018 |
| Repair and Recoat Interior and Exterior 127,000 gallon water storage tank |
2018 |
| Replace Lift Station A |
2019 |
| Rebuild Lift Station C |
2019 |
| Repair and Recoat Interior and Exterior 325,000 gallon water storage tank |
2019 |
| Rehabilitation of the 4 acre secondary effluent storage lagoon |
2019 |
| Rehabilitation of the 1.5 acre primary effluent treatment lagoon |
2020 |