Lake County Public Works
Summer Newsletter
Welcome to the summer edition of the Lake County Department of Public Works (LCPW) newsletter. It’s been a busy season, with major projects underway across Lake County to strengthen our water and wastewater infrastructure.
Some of this work is highly visible, like watching a crane lift a new well house into place. Other projects happen quietly behind the scenes at facilities you pass every day.
Here's a snapshot of what our teams have been working on this year:
 A Well House Takes Flight: Oak Terrace Water System
It’s not every day you see a building lifted into the air by a crane.
This summer, LCPW reached an exciting milestone in the construction of a new well house at West Oak Middle School. The well house will serve both the school and the nearby Oak Terrace Water System, helping provide a reliable source of drinking water for the community.
The new well house is the final phase of a larger project that began with drilling a test well and installing new water mains. Once the well house is complete, those newly installed water mains can become operational.
While the well house itself may be the most visible part of the project, the work represents a much bigger investment in the long-term reliability of the Oak Terrace Water System.
 Modernizing Force Mains in Vernon Hills
Some infrastructure is designed to work quietly for decades. But eventually, even the toughest pipes need to be replaced.
At the Vernon Hills West Pump Station, two 16-inch force mains have been in service for 35 and 50 years. Engineering analysis found that both pipes are degrading and need to be replaced.
As part of the project, one of the replacement pipes will be increased to 20 inches to accommodate future wastewater flows.
Much of the new pipe is being installed using directional drilling, a trenchless construction method that allows crews to install underground infrastructure with significantly less surface disruption than traditional open-cut excavation.
 Ever Wonder What Happens at the Building on Petite Lake Road?
If you’ve driven along Petite Lake Road in Lake Villa, you may have passed a Lake County facility without giving it a second thought.
Behind the scenes, facilities like the Petite Lake Pump Station play a critical role in the area's wastewater system. Pump stations collect wastewater from homes and businesses and move it through the sewer system when gravity alone isn't enough to carry it to a treatment facility. They are an essential part of protecting public health, preserving water quality and keeping wastewater flowing safely and reliably.
Now, LCPW is upgrading the station’s electrical system to keep that process running reliably for years to come.
The electrical system monitors water levels and controls the pumps. It also detects potential problems and alerts County staff when attention is needed. The upgrade will replace aging equipment with a modern level monitoring and management system, improving reliability and giving staff better tools to monitor the station.
 Des Plaines River Water Reclamation Facility Improvements
The Des Plaines River Water Reclamation Facility treats wastewater from homes and businesses, removing solids, pollutants and harmful microorganisms before safely returning the treated water to the environment.
Projects are underway at the facility that include the installation of additional disc filters, new covers for our secondary clarifier and new UV disinfection, and the replacement/upgrade of two blowers.
Overall, the improvements will require less chemical use in the process, improve efficiencies and provide additional capacity at this important facility.
Summer Water Restrictions In Effect
 From May 15 through September 15 each year, County ordinance prohibits outdoor water use for landscaping and irrigation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Outdoor watering is also limited by address number. Homes and businesses with even-numbered addresses may water outdoors only on even-numbered calendar days, while odd-numbered addresses may water on odd-numbered days.
As summer progresses, hotter and drier conditions may result in additional water-use restrictions.
North Libertyville Estates Levee Update
 For residents of North Libertyville Estates, a one-mile-long levee provides an important line of defense against flooding.
This summer, LCPW worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on its scheduled inspection of the levee. The 2026 inspection found the levee in good condition, continuing a regular cycle of inspections and maintenance that helps ensure this critical infrastructure is ready when it is needed most.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed and constructed the levee in 1997 to protect the North Libertyville Estates subdivision from flooding that had affected the neighborhood for years. LCPW is responsible for maintaining the levee today.
The levee as currently constructed could have possibly contained all major flooding events that have occurred in Lake County since the subdivision was built in 1954. However, rainfall patterns are changing. Lake County has experienced more frequent and intense rainfall events in recent years. That makes ongoing inspection, maintenance and improvements especially important.
Contact Us
The Lake County Public Works Building, located at 650 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville, is open to the public. Customers may also contact us with any questions or concerns at:
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