The Wastewater Division receives raw wastewater from West Chicago and the Village of Winfield. It removes over 99 percent of conventional pollutants such as total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and ammonia-nitrogen. We take the raw gray-black wastewater and treat it, then release the sparkling clear water to the West Branch of the DuPage River. The treatment process also adds a significant amount of dissolved oxygen to the effluent which further enhances the receiving stream.
The Wastewater Division currently treats an average of five million gallons of water per day.
The solids removed by the treatment process are digested to stabilize and reduce the volume of the material, then the solids are “dewatered” and sent to a landfill for disposal.
The Wastewater Division also implements the Pretreatment Program for West Chicago. This program is a Federally mandated program designed to monitor and regulate wastewater discharges from industry and prevent industrial pollution from harming the Wastewater Plant or from passing through the plant and harming the receiving stream.