The Department of Water will repair any sidewalk or driveway damaged by our personnel. Although we do not replace lawns with new sod, we do replace black dirt and seed the affected area. It is generally recommended that buildings taller than two stories be equipped with booster pumps. The Plumbing Inspection Division will assist you in identifying the locations of water mains and avoiding damage to them. Water pressure varies throughout Chicago and is dependent on a number of factors.
Open hydrants endanger the health and safety of our citizens by wasting water and lowering pressure.
Hydrant vandals should be reported to the police. Unauthorized opening of hydrants or causing damage to fire hydrants, are crimes punishable by fine and imprisonment. Fire hydrants are strategically located at specific intervals to insure that external protection is available in the event of fires. It is not the Department of Water's policy to move hydrants to prevent illegal opening. Instead, we have an aggressive program to educate communities and to equip hydrants in areas where abuse occurs frequently with heavy duty locks, such as the Custodian, which have proven effective in helping to prevent this problem.