815-622-1100

Sewer problems? Click here for our services page.

Water Reclamation

The Rock Falls Water Reclamation Department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the advanced wastewater treatment plant, storm water collection system and the installation and maintenance of all city sanitary mains and pump stations. We are licensed by the Illinois EPA to protect public health and the environment with our services.

Contact the Water Reclamation Department

Matt Trotter, Water Reclamation Superintendent

(815) 622-1125

mtrotter@rockfalls61071.com

Monthly Discharge Monitoring Report

View the monthly reports we send to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

StoneSign_081411_smWater Reclamation Rates and Services

For information on water reclamation rates, please visit the utility section.

Problems with your sewer? Please also view the utility section.

Administration BuildingThe City of Rock Falls Water Reclamation Facility opened in July 2011. It is a three million gallons per day (MGD) Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility, which consists of fine screening grit removal, Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) oxidation ditch, secondary clarification, tertiary treatment, UV disinfection, two two-meter belt presses and a septage receiving station. The facility is designed with extra screw lift channels and installed piping. This forward-thinking design will allow the addition of a mirror copy of the plant to be built east of the current facility. Such an extension would double the plant’s current capacity.
The collection system consists of 11 pump stations. All stations have new state-of-the-art controllers with emergency cell phone dialers and backup emergency generators.

The Main Lift pump station is located at the old plant site. All collections are pumped from this location to the facility west of the city.

The Water Reclamation facility is operated and maintained by team members under a Illinois class one-licensed operators.
Wastewater-prairieAt the Water Reclamation Facility west of the city, we’re participating in the City’s Prairie Project. Two large areas of prairie grass and flowers provide food and cover for numerous birds, pollinators and insects. This also eliminates mowing man hours.

cleawater-map-lgCity of Rock Falls Water Reclamation Facility
100 Clearwater Drive
Rock Falls, IL  61071
815-622-1125

Drainage and Flooding

It is important to understand how an illegal sump pump hookup can affect basement or city flooding. Visit our Draining and Flooding page to learn the best way to drain rain-water away from your property without overloading the system.

Freeze the Grease! Save the Drain!

When fats, oils and grease are washed down your sink, they stick to the insides of sewer pipes and cause messy back ups in your home. What you can do to help:

  • NEVER pour grease down sink drains or into toilets.
  • Scrape grease and food scraps into a can.
  • Freeze it.
  • Toss the can into the trash.

Flush Responsibly!

If you’re on a sanitary sewer system what you flush from your home affects the streams, lakes, and coastal waters in our community.

  • Don’t pour household products such as cleansers, beauty products, medicine, auto fluids, paint, and lawn care products down the drain.
  • Wastewater treatment facilities are designed to treat organic materials, not hazardous chemicals.
  • Don’t put excess household grease (meat fats, cooking oil, butter and margarine, etc.), diapers, condoms, and personal hygiene products down a drain or flush them.
  • These materials can clog pipes, and cause raw sewage to overflow in your home or yard, or in public areas. Don’t pour used motor oil down the drain.
  • Used motor oil can diminish the effectiveness of the treatment process and might allow contaminants to be discharged into local waterways.