Water/Sewer Department

General: The City of Watseka Public Works Facility is located at 230 W. North Street. The Public Works Department is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and upgrading of the City owned infrastructure and properties. This includes the sanitary sewer system, storm sewers, water distribution system, waste water treatment plant, streets, sidewalks, public buildings, parks, swimming pool, parking lots, and yard waste facility. In addition to the Director there are twelve full time employees and one part time employee.

Contact: The normal operating hours of the Public Works Department are 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday. You can contact the maintenance building at 815-432-4285. If there is no answer, you can either leave a message or call City Hall at 815-432-2017 and they will contact us. If you have an afterhours non-life threatening emergency such as a sewer blockage, water main leak, or downed tree please call the ICOM dispatch center at 815-432-7224.

Sewer and Water: If you experience an issue such as a sewer blockage, low water pressure, water quality, or a water leak, call us with the information such as address, description of the problem, cleanout location, and a contact number and we will determine the best solution to alleviate the problem.

The Public Works Department does not handle the sewer, water, or garbage billing. If you have questions regarding your bill call City Hall at 815-432-2017.

Streets: Our street sweeper runs on an as-needed basis. If you notice any storm sewer inlets that are blocked or debris in the street, call us and we will try to address it. Sidewalks are repaired and potholes are patched throughout the City two or three times a year. If there is a broken sidewalk or a pothole we missed, call us and we will add it to our list.

It is against City Ordinance to rake or blow grass clipping, leaves, or branches into a City street and is punishable by a citation and a fine.

Any work done on a City right-of-way by a contractor or a resident must be approved and authorized by the Public Works Director. This includes, but is not limited to, planting or removing trees, sidewalk or driveway construction, irrigation systems, sign placement, or utility work. Any underground work will also need to have a J.U.L.I.E. locate called in.

City snowplows will be running when road conditions are bad. City Ordinance requires all vehicles to be moved off of City streets after a 3″ or more snowfall. The vehicle should remain off of the street until snowplows have cleared the street. Public Works will try to keep the streets as safe and passable as we can, however due to the high cost of road salt we ration the amount we put down. Please travel City streets with caution during icy conditions.

Dumpsters: The City has a dumpster located at the Public Works Facility for residential use. This dumpster is not for commercial users. It is only for residents that live within City limits. The hours are as follows: every Monday from 12:00 to 4:00 and the first Saturday of the month from 12:00 to 4:00. There are items that the waste company will not accept which include:

• Any electronics
• Empty tanks – gas, oil, fuel, propane
• Tires
• Paint – paint cans will be accepted but they must be empty
• Appliances – Refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves, etc.
• Yard waste – grass clippings, leaves, branches, etc.
• Railroad ties
• Roofing material
• Batteries of any sort
• Concrete, large quantities of concrete blocks, bricks, or other masonry material
• Corrosive, flammable, reactive, radioactive, or hazardous waste
• Large quantities of fluorescent light bulbs
• Liquids
• Medical waste
• Used oil of any sort
• Septic waste or sewage treatment plant solids
• Barrels – unless rinsed and/or empty with both ends cut off
• Cars, trucks, mobile homes, buses (no vehicles)

Please check with the employee that is stationed by the dumpster before dumping any items. Proof of residency may be required.

Yard Waste Facility: The City operates a yard waste facility at the south end of South Second St. on the west side of the railroad. This facility is for City residents only and is for the disposal of yard waste such as grass clippings, leaves, branches, and organic landscaping materials. No other items will be accepted. Commercial contractors must be permitted and follow the requirements that apply to them. The hours of operation are as follows:

• Facility opens on the first weekend after March 15th
• March thru September

            Tuesday and Thursday    1:00 pm to 6:00 pm

            Saturday                          9:00 am to 5:00 pm

            Sunday                            1:00 pm to 6:00 pm

• October

            Tuesday thru Friday        1:00 pm to 6:00 pm

            Saturday                          9:00 am to 5:00 pm

            Sunday                            1:00 pm to 6:00 pm

• November

            Tuesday thru Friday        1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

            Saturday                          9:00 am to 5:00 pm

            Sunday                            1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

• December

            Saturday                          12:00 am to 5:00 pm

            Sunday                            12:00 pm to 5:00 pm

• Facility is closed in January, February, and the first half of March

Please check with the employee that is stationed by the gate before dumping any items. Proof of residency may be required and your load may be inspected.

All containers used for transporting yard waste must be emptied and taken away with you except for biodegradable paper yard waste bags which can be purchased at local stores. The Public Works Department does not pick up tree branches except in the case of a severe wind or ice storm which causes significant citywide damage.