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Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace not concerned over drought conditions
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Updated: July 22, 2012 6:28AM
The drought that has left the area dry isn’t expected to create significant problems in Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace or DuPage County forest preserves.
Probably the biggest concern to DuPage County Forest Preserve District officials is a potential increase in wild fires because of dry conditions.
“We do have a lot of green, which slows down fires, but some of the underlying grasses are very dry,” said Matt Blazek, manager of site operations for the forest preserve district.
Blazek said forest preserve trails are likely to be dusty because of the prolonged dry weather. He also said lakes and streams in the forest preserve are at a lower than normal water level, but he added it won’t take much to solve that situation.
“Really, one good rain will pretty much get things back to normal,” he said.
Both Oak Brook and Oakbrook Terrace purchase Lake Michigan water from the DuPage Water Commission, which buys it from Chicago.
In Oak Brook, Doug Patchin, a general foreman for the village’s Public Works Department, said regular restrictions for outdoor water use should suffice.
Those restrictions allow for even-numbered addresses to use outdoor water from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Odd-numbered addresses are restricted to outdoor water use during the same times on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. No outdoor watering is permitted on Monday.
Patchin said water use is up about 2 million gallons a day to 5 million. Some of that increase is seasonal.
“A lot of people have cut back on usage because of cost,” Patchin said. “With water rates increasing, people are more careful.”
In Oakbrook Terrace, Public Services Director Craig Ward said he doesn’t anticipate the drought to create any problems in the city.
Average daily use in Oakbrook Terrace is about 200,000 gallons. Hotels and restaurants use the most water, Ward said.
“We’re not too far above our average right now,” he said. “We’re actually in very good shape.”
Oakbrook Terrace also has restrictions on outdoor water use.
“Our water restrictions are designed to be followed, but we’re not enforcing them right now,” Ward said.
Between May 15 and September 15 of each year, or at other times when the city manager determines a water shortage exists, the filling of swimming pools and the mechanical sprinkling of lawns and gardens is restricted to:
8 p.m. Monday to 8 a.m. Tuesday; 8 p.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. Thursday; and 8 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday for properties with even-number addresses. For properties having odd-number addresses, outdoor watering is limited to 8 p.m. Tuesday to 8 a.m. Wednesday; 8 p.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday; and 8 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday.
No filling of swimming pools or the mechanical sprinkling of lawns and gardens is permitted between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, or between 8:00 a.m. on Sunday to 8 p.m. on Monday.
During any period in which an extreme water supply shortage exists, no water from the city mains is to be used for any purpose outside a residence, business or other building, other than for the extinguishment of fires or other emergency purpose.
Violation of these water restrictions includes a warning citation for a first offense, a $50 fine for conviction on a second offense during the same water shortage period, and a $100 fine for conviction on a third offense during the same period.
