Overhead Sewer 50/50 Program

The Village of Orland Hills is informing residents that do not have overhead sanitary sewers in their home that the Village and Illinois American Waterworks, formerly Citizens Utilities has a 50/50 program to update your home to overhead sanitary sewers. The older raised ranch or two story framed homes built before 1975 are the homes built without overhead sewers, although a few homes built before 1980 may be affected.

Updating your home will alleviate sanitary sewer backup in your home when storms cause the sanitary sewers to become inundated with storm water. Although many homes have been updated through the years, many are still plagued by this problem.

The cost to update or retrofit a home is between $ 4,000.00 and $ 6,000.00. Grants equivalent to 50% of the cost of the installation up to a maximum of $ 2,000.00 will be available to those residents that qualify as determined by IAW. Interest free loans will be available from IAW to cover the balance of the cost not covered by the grant, from a minimum of $ 500.00 to a maximum of $ 3,000.00.

There are two methods available to update your home. The first method involves breaking out a small portion of the lower level floor and installing a sealed pit with and ejection pump. Some of the existing plumbing in the lower level will need to be modified. This method may be a problem for those of you who have finished lower levels. The second method requires no inside modifications or construction to your finished lower level. A flood control device is installed on the sanitary line in the yard. This method is usually more expensive than the first. There are pros and cons relating to both of these methods and a site visit from the Village is required to determine which method is best for you.

For more information or to set up a site visit please contact Joe Ennesser at the Village of Orland Hills, Building Department 708.349.4887