Water main breaks continue to affect Park Forest, according to Public Works officials who attribute the recurring problem to the village’s aging underground infrastructure and frequent temperature fluctuations.
Public Works Director Roderick Ysaguirre noted that with a warming trend following recent cold weather, additional water main breaks could occur. He explained that while extreme cold is a common cause, rapid shifts between freezing and thawing temperatures also increase stress on older pipes.
“We do see an uptick in the frequency of breaks when temperatures change,” Ysaguirre said. “When the ground goes from normal to freezing and freezing back to normal, the surrounding ground around water mains tends to stress and strain the pipes in various ways. These stresses and strains are in addition to any breaks caused by pressure-related issues.”
Park Forest maintains about 73 miles of water main, much of which was installed over 70 years ago. As these pipes age, they become more prone to corrosion, shifting soil, and changes in water pressure, all of which can result in breaks throughout the year.
Ysaguirre stated that his department does not have updated figures for this season’s total number of breaks but reported 10 incidents since mid-January.
Breaks are detected through several channels: alerts from the water treatment plant due to unusual system flow, reports from residents or local staff who notice flowing water where it should not be, or observations by Public Works crews during routine work.
“If a resident sees something like flowing water when normally they would not see flowing water, they should call Public Works at 708-503-7702 to report it,” Ysaguirre said. “Staff will respond to investigate. It could be a water main break, it could be a burst pipe in a vacant home, it could be a sump pump, or just melting snow. Let us know, and we will look into it.”
Most repairs are straightforward and completed quickly; however, some require more time if located under roads or near other utilities. Full replacement of water mains is costly—averaging $1.5 million per mile—and remains a long-term goal for Park Forest. Since 2019, about 5.5 miles have been replaced; since 1987, roughly 22 miles have undergone replacement as officials seek state and federal funding for ongoing projects.
In general, water quality is not compromised by these breaks. Routine monthly testing is performed alongside additional checks during repairs in line with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency standards. A Boil Water Advisory may be issued if system pressure drops too low as a precautionary measure.
After a break occurs, residents might notice red or discolored tap water due to iron released from pipes—a condition usually resolving within 24 hours. Residents are advised to run cold taps until clear and avoid using discolored water in hot water heaters.
To keep residents informed about service disruptions or emergencies such as boil advisories, Park Forest uses its CodeRed notification system for email alerts regarding non-quality issues and phone/text notifications for emergencies.
The village continues annual budgeting for smaller-scale improvements while planning larger projects every five years as part of its long-term strategy.
Park Forest operates under a council-manager government structure with oversight from a mayor and six trustees who set policy direction for municipal services and infrastructure management (https://www.villageofparkforest.com/). The community emphasizes sustainability efforts and health programs through collaboration across commissions (https://www.villageofparkforest.com/).
Officials remain focused on strengthening economic conditions through innovative municipal services while maintaining leadership on sustainability initiatives (https://www.villageofparkforest.com/).
Residents interested in learning more about civic issues can access educational resources provided by the Civic Leadership Academy (https://www.villageofparkforest.com/).
