Mission Statement

The Water Division will operate and maintain the Rockford public water system in a manner that:

• Protects public health and enhances the community (Our Product)
• Focuses on our customers (Our Service)
• Upholds the highest standards of public trust (Our Reputation)

Vision

The Rockford Water Division sets high standards for itself and, in striving to achieve these standards, seeks to continually improve all aspects of its operations. 

The City used water from the Rock River as the source of its water supply until about 1875.  Because waterborne diseases caused by bacteria are prolific in surface water (e.g. water from the Rock River), the public works division created the first Rockford public water utility. Portions of the original water system in use today are over 100 years old.

Primary Functions

The Water Division is comprised of three operating sections and Administration.  The Division is responsible for production, quality control, storage, distribution, and related services to approximately 52,000 water customers.

Production Section – The Production Section is responsible for overseeing the operation of the water system wells/booster pumps, ground-level and elevated storage, water treatment equipment, water quality, cross-connection control, and facility maintenance.

Distribution Section – The Distribution Section oversees the maintenance, repair, and replacement of water mains and associated service branches, valves, and fire hydrants. 

Customer Service Section – The Customer Service Section is primarily responsible for responding to customer concerns, meter readings, installation/replacement of water meters, and responding to service calls.

Administration Section – The Administrative Section is responsible for all division administration, fiscal control, system planning, service contract administration, and payroll.

The City uses ground water as the source of its water supply. The City does not utilize a centralized water treatment plant.  Instead, raw water is treated at the well sites with fluoride, polyphosphates, and chlorine. To ensure the safety of the water, samples are continuously tested at state approved laboratories.

The Water Division is the largest municipally owned ground water system in Illinois. Water is obtained from 39 wells (not from the Rock River). There are 36 reservoirs and two elevated tanks. Annual production is 9 billion gallons. Average consumption is approximately 25.75 million gallons per day, but the system is capable of producing up to 60 million gallons per day.

Water is drawn from the aquifers using 39 wells, which are generally evenly-spaced at 35 locations throughout the City (average well density is approximately one well every 1.6 square miles).  The wells vary from less than 100 feet to more than 1600 feet deep.   

The wells pump ground water into adjoining ground storage facilities.  Raw water is treated with chlorine, fluoride and polyphosphates (at wells with high iron levels).  Treated water is pumped from storage directly into the water distribution system using booster pumps.