Waste Water Treatment Process
The Waste Water Division of the City of West Chicago receives raw waste water from both West Chicago and the Village of Winfield.
It removes over 99% of conventional pollutants such as total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and ammonia-nitrogen. The raw gray-black waste water is treated and then released as sparkling, clear water into the West Branch of the DuPage River.
The treatment process adds a significant amount of dissolved oxygen to the effluent, which further enhances the receiving stream. 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 Waste Water Division currently treats an average of five million gallons of water per day.