Environmental Stewardship
The City of West Chicago is committed to
the protection and improvement of the environment,
efficient management of natural resources,
working with community partners,
promoting a sustainable community, and
enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the City
A New Era is Upon Us
Today, West Chicagoans are making everyday choices with greater care to sustain a healthier life and a cleaner environment for themselves and their families.
Our Community embraces our environmental stewardship responsibilities to improve the quality of life for all stakeholders.
Explore How West Chicago is Making a Difference
- Paper Shredding
- Rain Barrels
- Adopt-A-Highway Cleanups
- Urban Forestry
- Stormwater Management
- Recycling
- Mosquito Control
City of West Chicago
Water Quality Report 2020
This Report summarizes the quality of water that was provided to you during the 2020 calendar year and provides details about:
- The sources of your water
- What the water contains
- How the water compares to standards set by Federal and State regulatory agencies.
We believe that you will find this Report helpful in answering your questions regarding the quality and safety of your drinking water.
Recent News about Environmental Stewardship in West Chicago
Volunteers Needed for Senior Leaf Raking Service Project
West Chicago’s annual Senior Citizen Leaf Raking Event is scheduled for Saturday, November 6, 2021, from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Volunteers are needed to lend a helping hand to senior citizens and those unable to tackle the task of raking the leaves in their yards. Individuals, businesses, or organizations looking for a rewarding service project should contact Officer Robyn Nielsen at (630) 293-2222 or by email at RNielsen@westchicago.org. Volunteers will gather at the Fox Community Center, 306 Main Street, at 8:00 a.m. to receive their assignment, and return to the Community Center at 12:00 p.m. for a thank you […]
Don’t Trash Pumpkins, Compost Them
Saturday, November 6, 20219:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.First United Methodist Church643 East Washington Street Last year, 4.94 tons of pumpkins were collected, nearly filling the collection receptacle stationed at the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) of West Chicago parking lot, to its capacity. The Pumpkin Composting Event was hugely successful in diverting pumpkins from landfills, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions and returning the nutrient rich fruit back to the earth where they were grown. This year, organizers hope to surpass that tonnage as more and more residents are becoming aware of the environmental benefits of pumpkin composting. The West Chicago […]
Sixth, and Final, District-wide Mosquito Spraying Rescheduled for Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Please note: This spraying was originally scheduled for Monday, September 20th, however due to inclement weather was postponed until the evening of Tuesday, September 21st. The City of West Chicago has been notified that weather permitting, the West Chicago Mosquito Abatement District will conduct the sixth and final District-wide spraying for mosquito control on Tuesday evening, September 21, 2021, weather permitting. Community member questions may be directed to the Mosquito Hotline (800) 942-2555 or wcmad@clarke.com. To learn about steps you can take to protect your family from West Nile Virus, visit the 2021 Mosquito Update and scroll down to What Can Residents Do?
Cottage Garden of Judith and Michael Horsley
The Cottage Garden of Judith and Michael Horsley is a great example of what residents can do toward conservation efforts. This distinct style of garden combines informal design, traditional materials, dense plantings and a mixture of ornamental and edible plants.
Two New Monarch Gardens Take Flight
Attention all West Chicago butterfly lovers, and there are many. Two new public gardens have been designed and installed through a collaboration between the West Chicago Park District, the City of West Chicago, and resident and Master Naturalist Judith Horsley, who applied and received a grant on the Park District’s behalf from the North American Monarch Institute (NAMI) in Madison, Wisconsin.
Fifth District-wide Mosquito Spraying – Monday, September 13, 2021
The City of West Chicago has been notified that weather permitting, the West Chicago Mosquito Abatement District will conduct the fourth spraying for mosquitoes Monday, September 13, 2021. Community member questions may be directed to the Mosquito Hotline (800) 942-2555 or wcmad@clarke.com. To learn about steps you can take to protect your family from West Nile Virus, visit the 2021 Mosquito Update and scroll down to What Can Residents Do?
West Chicago Resident Provides Information on Raising and Releasing Monarch Butterflies at Sonny Acres
A free program, Raising and Releasing Monarch Butterflies offered at Sonny Acres Farm, 29W310 North Avenue in West Chicago, caught the attention of Mayor Ruben Pineda. Children attending Christine Tierney’s presentation at Sonny Acres Farm look on in awe as they discover the wonder of transformation that the monarch butterfly undergoes in its lifecycle. As one of more than 600 mayors and heads of local and tribal governments across North America who have committed to signing the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge™, Mayor Pineda attended the session to learn more about what members of his community were doing […]
First United Methodist Church of West Chicago Receives Water Quality Flag
The First United Methodist Church of West Chicago is the first organization in West Chicago to be awarded the Water Quality Flag from the DuPage County Stormwater Management and SCARCE. The Environmental Stewardship Committee, aka Green Disciples, worked towards earning the flag under the leadership of chairperson Michael Horsley. Kay McKeen, founder of SCARCE and Mary Mitros, Stormwater Communications Supervisor presented the flag earlier this summer. Mary Mitros is the designer of the flag. The three waves of water represent the three watersheds in DuPage County. DuPage County was recognized nationally by the National Association of Counties (NACo) in 2019 […]
Protecting Public Health and Pollinators: A Message from the West Chicago Mosquito Abatement District
The following information was provided by the West Chicago Mosquito Abatement District. Honeybees – Limited impacts of truck-based ultra-low volume applications of mosquito adulticides on mortality in honey bees – .pdf 329kbAnvil FAQs – .pdf 648kb One of the most-frequently asked questions about community mosquito control applications is about their safety of pollinators. The answers can be found in understanding the products and the practices used. The droplet and the dose. The products used are formulated and applied with a method specifically optimized for the control of adult mosquitoes. This results in less than an ounce per acre being applied […]