Water

The Village of Park Forest is proud of the drinking water it provides. The Village's mission is to provide residents with high-quality, safe drinking water that meets or surpasses every federal and state standard. In 2007, the Village of Park Forest opened a new water treatment facility. Since then, the Village of Park Forest has received numerous awards, including the Illinois Section American Water Works Association's Best Tasting Water in Illinois Award in 2010 and 2012 and Best Tasting Water in Chicago's Southern Suburbs in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2020. 

The Village is continuing to address its water quality by continuing efforts to replace the aged water mains that deliver water to residents and businesses.

Park Forest encourages public interest and participation in community decisions related to drinking water. Regular meetings of the Village of Park Forest Board of Trustees are held monthly at Village Hall. Public comments are welcomed at these meetings.

Water Source

The Village of Park Forest is supplied by groundwater pumped from six wells drilled approximately 300 feet deep into a dolomite limestone aquifer. The wells are all located within a one-mile radius of the Water Plant. Water is pumped from the wells to the plant, where it is softened using a lime and soda ash softening process. The water is also filtered through sand filters. Chlorine is added as a disinfectant, and fluoride is added to help prevent tooth decay. Water is pumped from the plant to the consumer through miles of underground water mains.

Other Monitoring

Park Forest's water system tests for hundreds of additional substances to make certain our water is safe and of high quality. If you are interested in a summary of all tests, contact the Public Works Department at 708-503-7702, or visit Drinking Water Watch at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Completed Source Water Assessment 

Based on information obtained in a well-site survey, published in 1992 by the Illinois EPA, 24 possible problem sites were identified within the survey area of Park Forest. The Illinois EPA has determined that the source water obtained from Park Forest Wells #1 through #6 is susceptible to contamination. This means, if a source of contamination is present near a well, the aquifer could be affected. This determination is based on a number of criteria, including monitoring conducted at the wells, monitoring conducted at the entry point to the distribution system, and the available hydrogeologic data on the wells. The Illinois Environmental Protection Act provides a minimum protection zone of 400 feet for Park Forest’s wells. These minimum protection zones are regulated by the Illinois EPA.