Hydrant Flushing Starts Next Week

Starting Monday, the Public Works Department will begin flushing all fire hydrants within the Village. Opening fire hydrants and flushing out water on an annual basis allows Public Works to ensure that hydrants are in proper working condition and helps to flush sediment out of the distribution system. The work is typically performed between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and takes approximately two weeks to be completed for the entire Village.

If you see a Public Works truck or hydrant being flushed in your neighborhood, not do laundry. Flushing may stir up rust that can enter washing machines and cause discoloration to certain types of clothing. Additionally, there may be discoloration in the water coming from the faucets in your home after hydrant flushing is complete in your area. It is recommended that residents flush water from their interior system through a tub spout for a few minutes to clear out sediment. Please note that the water from the tap is safe to drink at all times.

Deerfield Road Resurfacing Project

While the Village's Deerfield Road resurfacing project is nearly complete, the Lake County portion of the project is now underway. Watch for lane closures and traffic delays.

Lake County has set up a project website here to provide updates.

West Nile Virus Update From SLMAD

The Southlake Mosquito Abatement District (www.slmad.org) is continuing to monitor local mosquito populations and test samples for West Nile Virus.  While the absolute number of  mosquitoes is not high, the District has seen an uptick in mosquito samples testing positive for West Nile Virus, making personal protective measures throughout the rest of the season very important. 

“While we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, we must also remember to take steps to protect our health from other illnesses,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.  “In an effort to decrease our risk of contracting COVID-19 from indoor settings, many of us are spending more time outdoors while still socially distancing.  As we enjoy the outdoors, we need to protect ourselves from other viruses carried by mosquitoes by wearing insect repellent and getting rid of standing water around our homes.”  

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a Culex pipiens mosquito, commonly called a house mosquito, which has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird.  Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches.  Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks.

The best way to help prevent West Nile Virus is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and neighborhood and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. There are some simple precautions you can take to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and protect yourself from being bitten.  Precautions include practicing the three “R’s” – reduce, repel and report.

• REDUCE - Eliminate, or refresh each week, all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires, and any other containers. Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens.  Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut.
• REPEL - Apply insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535, according to label instructions.  Consult a physician before using repellents on infants. When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
• REPORT – report locations where you see water sitting stagnant for more than a week such as roadside ditches, flooded yards, standing water in Ravines, and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes. Residents can report stagnant water @ www.clarkeportal.com

D-Tales Now Available On-Line

Check out the latest issue of D-Tales for information about construction, trick-or-treating, fall leaf collection, and much more.  It will be mailed to residents next week, but you can read it on-line here.