Environmental Quality Department
109 W. Bangs St.
847-487-3575
Jackie D. Schramm
Director of Environmental Quality
jschramm@wauconda-il.gov

The Environmental Quality Department is pleased to represent the Village of Wauconda in the Clean Air Counts program. Clean Air Counts is a six-county Chicago regional initiative of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Region V, City of Chicago, and Illinois EPA. It seeks significant reductions in smog-forming pollutants and energy consumption.

Smog is especially hard on children, the elderly, and anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors on warm, sunny days. Poor air quality is associated with up to 20 percent of respiratory-related hospital visits, thousands of asthma attacks, and close to 3,700 premature deaths each year in the Chicago region, according to the American Lung Association. In addition, the Texas Transportation Institute estimates that sprawl, congestion, and associated air pollution costs the Chicago region about $4 billion annually in lost time and wasted fuel alone.

Smog is the byproduct of millions of small choices made every day: Should we drive or take the train? What kind of paint should we use? Is the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs worth the additional cost? What types of cleaners should we use in our home? These and other daily decisions about operations and maintenance, landscaping, technology, and other issues add up, and their collective impact can either aggravate or relieve the region’s air quality problems. Join the Village of Wauconda and find out how you can make Clean Air Count by visiting www.cleanaircounts.org. Make your home or business a community leader in making our air cleaner, our quality of life better and our home climate more inviting.

Industrial Pretreatment Program

Our Pretreatment Program enables the Environmental Quality Department to protect the wastewater treatment plant from possible chemical spills, and to track potentially toxic or harmful chemicals. Such harmful or toxic chemicals could disable the wastewater treatment plant, harm personnel or collection systems, or damage the environment, if spilled or improperly disposed of. Please refer to Ordinance 2000-O-31 for further information.

Registration requirements:

All new businesses/non-residential site occupants must register with the Environmental Quality Department before opening.

The Village of Wauconda Pretreatment Registration Ordinance 2004-0-04 states that:

  • All new commercial /industrial site occupants in the Village of Wauconda are required to complete the Pretreatment Registration Form and remit the $50 registration fee, before the business occupies the property.

  • A pretreatment inspection of the premises must be conducted before the site opens for business or utilizes the property.

  • Any transfer of ownership shall require a new registration (including the $50 fee) with the Environmental Quality Pretreatment Program.

  • Once established, Registration forms and inspections are required on an annual basis.

($50 fee applies only to initial registration)

The purpose of the registration is to keep a current and accurate inventory of all of the businesses in the Village of Wauconda and ensure that Federal and local environmental regulations are being met. The Environmental Protection Agency requires the Village to send an annual updated report of all occupied commercial sites within the Village of Wauconda. In addition, the Village is required to inspect these sites before opening for business for chemicals used and/or stored on site, to properly regulate the users of the wastewater treatment plant.

Grease Traps

One type of pretreatment of wastewater in a food establishment is the grease interceptor. All institutions or commercial establishments that process food in which grease, fats or culinary oils or similar products are wasted are required to have a grease interceptor. A properly operating grease interceptor will capture the grease, fats and oils, preventing them from entering the sewer system. Grease blockages can cause main sewer lines to become plugged, thereby causing sewer overflows. It is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that the grease interceptor is acceptable and in working condition, and cleaned correctly. The sizing, efficiency, and plumbing of the grease interceptor must meet both the Illinois State Plumbing Code and the Village of Wauconda Code, Ordinance 2005-O-53.

Improper Disposal of Grease Can Cost your Restaurant $$$

Did you know when grease is poured into a drain it can cost restaurant owners/managers money? Restaurants are responsible for properly managing used cooking grease. Cooking grease collects in drains and hardens into a plug. Pouring grease down the drain and flushing with hot water is not the solution, as grease is simply moved down the collection system and can cause sewer backups further down the collection line. In addition, grease causes operational problems at the Wauconda Wastewater Treatment Plant. Grease accumulates in equipment, plugs pumps, and interferes with treatment of wastewater.

Why Should Restaurants Care About Sewer Backups?

As a restaurant owner/manager, and a taxpayer you should be concerned about sewer backups because:

  • Sewer backups can cause extensive damage to streets, parking lots, and other structures.

  • Sewer backups result in thousands of dollars being spent for cleanups.

  • Maintaining your grease trap is the law.

The Village of Wauconda Wastewater Discharge and Pretreatment Ordinance #2000-O-31 Section 10-8-2-1(c)and(r)states: .. "No Industrial User may contribute..to the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW)..Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of such size as are capable of causing obstruction to the flow in the sewers, or other interference with the proper operation of the sewerage works. (r)Any discharge of fats, oils, or greases of animal or vegetable in origin is limited to 75mg/l.

Best Management Practices:

Restaurants have options for managing used grease properly.

  • Pump grease traps regularly.

  • Check the grease trap while it is being pumped. Make sure the trap has been pumped thoroughly.

  • Use a reputable grease hauling company.

  • Ask your hauler it the used grease is being recycled, or if you can visit the rendering plant.

  • Get a manifest or receipt from the hauler for each load pumped. This protects businesses in case the hauler dumps the grease load illegally.

      Prevention:

  • Grease can be disposed of as solid waste, as long as it is not in liquid form. Pour grease into empty containers with lids make sure the empty containers are heat resistant. Allow grease to harden then put the container in the trash.

  • Clean spills up immediately to prevent grease from being discharged to floor drains. Discard the rags in the trash rather than washing.

  • Sweep before mopping or spraying floor to prevent unnecessary food buildup in the trap.

      How to Check Grease Traps:

  • Some people check their grease traps using fluorescent tube protectors (clear plastic tubes) purchased from a hardware store. The tubes cost between $3.00 and $8.00. Cut the tube to fit grease rap. Dip the tube in the grease trap, and plug the clean end (like using a straw to get liquid out of a glass).

  • Grease traps are not always efficient. Restaurant owners may want to pump traps when they are 25% full.

  • Another way to measure how much grease is in your trap is to insert a yardstick. If the grease on the yardstick measures 25% of the depth of the grease trap, it is time to pump the trap.


Bangs Lake Invasive Plant Management Plan

Plant Harvest Management

A plant harvester is used to cut and harvest aquatic plants and control invasive species on Bangs Lake. The dominant invasive plant species on Bangs Lake are Eurasian Water Milfoil, and Curly-leaf Pondweed. The invasive species are a
problem because they grow quickly and prevent the native plants (that are essential part of the lake ecosystem) from growing. The Village of Wauconda Environmental Quality Department, in cooperation with the Lake County Lake Management Unit and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, has developed a plan to manage the aquatic plants on
Bangs Lake. The goals of the harvesting program are listed below:

-Plant Harvester Goals:

  • Improve navigation

  • Improve recreational attributes of the lake

  • Remove or limit exotic plants

  • Manage without the use of chemicals

  • Reduce nutrient load to lake

  • Return native plants to lake

  • Restore fish and wildlife habitat

  • Improve quality of water resource for all to enjoy

  • Implement plan with Lake County Lakes Management Unit to leave sensitive areas undisturbed.

The Environmental Quality Department has received a bathymetric map from Lake County delineating sensitive areas of native plant species and locations of the invasive species. It also indicates the density of the invasive plants. It is essential that we do not over harvest native plants because the water quality of the lake is dependent on the native aquatic plants. Lanes for navigation will be harvested in sensitive areas to allow for boat traffic. In some sensitive areas the harvester blade will be lifted to allow for mowing rather than complete removal of aquatic plants. The harvester will also avoid fish spawning areas during May and June to allow the fish to reproduce. As you can see, the harvest program will be challenging, but our goal is to strike a balance between our recreational activities and the water quality of the lake.

Stormwater Pollution

What is Stormwater runoff?

Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets prevent stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground. Polluted stormwater runoff is a leading cause of impairment to the nearly 40 percent of surveyed U.S. water bodies which do not meet water quality standards. Over land or via storm sewer systems, polluted runoff is discharged, often untreated, directly into local water bodies. When left uncontrolled, this water pollution can result in the destruction of fish, wildlife, and aquatic life habitats; a loss in aesthetic value; and threats to public health due to contaminated food, drinking water supplies, and recreational waterways.

10 Things You Can Do To Prevent Stormwater Runoff Pollution

  • Use fertilizers sparingly and sweep up driveways, sidewalks, and roads

  • Never dump anything down storm drains

  • Vegetate bare spots in your yard

  • Compost your yard waste

  • Avoid pesticides; learn about Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

  • Direct downspouts away from paved surfaces

  • Take your car to the car wash instead of washing it in the driveway

  • Check car for leaks, and recycle motor oil

  • Pick up after your pet

  • Have your septic tank pumped and system inspected regularly

For more information, visit www.epa.gov/nps or www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater

Wauconda Village Hall
101 N. Main Street
Wauconda, IL  60084
(847) 526-9600
Fax: (847) 526-8809
COPYRIGHT © 2005, All Rights Reserved
 
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