Water, sewer, and refuse are billed together on one combined Village bill. Trash and recycling pickup is provided by our contracted hauler, Homewood Disposal, but for billing or service issues, please contact Village Hall directly.
Water is one of our most precious resources. Here are some fascinating facts about the water you use every day.
About 71% of Earth's surface is covered in water, but only about 3% is freshwater — and less than 1% is accessible for drinking.
A typical shower uses about 2 gallons of water per minute. Cutting your shower by just 2 minutes can save up to 4 gallons every day.
A faucet dripping once per second wastes over 3,000 gallons of water per year — enough to take more than 180 showers!
The human body is about 60% water. Your brain alone is roughly 75% water — so staying hydrated really does help you think clearly!
The water you drink today may have once been part of a dinosaur! Water continuously cycles through evaporation, precipitation, and collection — the same water has been on Earth for billions of years.
It takes about 660 gallons of water to produce a single hamburger, and roughly 37 gallons to grow just one cup of coffee's worth of beans.
Toilets account for nearly 30% of indoor water use in a home. Switching to a WaterSense-labeled toilet can save up to 13,000 gallons per year.
Illinois sits above the Mahomet Aquifer, one of the largest groundwater reserves in the Midwest, supplying drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents in central Illinois.
Ever wonder what happens after you flush? Here's how the Village treats wastewater — and how residents can help keep the system running smoothly.
🔄 The Journey of Wastewater
- 1. Down the drain — Water from sinks, showers, toilets, and washing machines flows into the Village's sewer lines.
- 2. Lift stations — Because Gardner's terrain is relatively flat, lift stations pump wastewater toward the treatment plant.
- 3. Treatment — Screening, settling, and biological processes remove solids and break down contaminants.
- 4. Disinfection — Treated water is disinfected to meet Illinois EPA water quality standards.
- 5. Return to nature — Clean, treated water is released back into a local waterway, continuing the water cycle.
🚫 What NOT to Flush or Pour Down the Drain
Remember the 3 Ps — only Pee, Poop, and (toilet) Paper belong in the toilet. Please keep these out of drains and toilets:
- "Flushable" wipes, paper towels & napkins
- Grease, fats & cooking oil (let cool, then trash it)
- Medications (use a take-back location instead)
- Diapers, feminine hygiene products & dental floss
- Cat litter and cigarette butts
These items can clog pipes, damage pumps, and cause costly backups for the whole system.
Wastewater treatment is a bit of unsung infrastructure magic. Here are some facts you might not know.
Even wipes labeled "flushable" don't break down like toilet paper. They're a leading cause of sewer clogs and pump damage nationwide.
Fats, oils, and grease harden as they cool inside pipes, forming blockages — the single largest cause of sewer backups in the U.S.
Depending on the process, wastewater can spend anywhere from several hours to more than a day moving through treatment before it's clean enough to release.
Gravity can't do all the work — lift stations use pumps to move wastewater uphill toward the treatment plant when the terrain is flat.
Properly treated wastewater is returned to local streams and rivers, helping protect fish, wildlife, and drinking water sources downstream.
Most treatment plants aren't designed to filter out pharmaceuticals. Use a medication take-back program instead of flushing old prescriptions.
Village utility bills (water, sewer, and refuse) are issued monthly. Here are all the ways you can pay.
💳 Online Payment
Pay your Village utility bill online 24/7 through the Collector Solutions portal. You'll need your account number from your paper bill.
📄 View Your Bill Online
View current and past utility bills through the LOCIS portal. You'll need your account number and an email on file with the Village.
Need to register? Call Village Hall or email lwagner@villageofgardner.org.
🏛️ Pay In Person
Visit Village Hall to pay by cash or check during regular business hours.
- 302 N. Center St., Gardner, IL 60424
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Closed daily 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (lunch)
- Saturday–Sunday: Closed
- (815) 237-2592
A payment drop box is available outside Village Hall 24 hours a day for after-hours payments.
✉️ Pay by Mail
Mail your check or money order (payable to Village of Gardner) to:
- Village of Gardner
- 302 N. Center St.
- Gardner, IL 60424
Illinois law requires you to call JULIE (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators) before any digging project.
📞 Call 811 Before Digging
Whether you're planting a tree, installing a fence, or doing any excavation work, call 811 at least 3 business days before you dig. JULIE will notify utility companies to come mark underground lines at no cost to you.
- Call 811 or visit illinois1call.com
- Allow at least 3 full business days for locating
- Dig carefully within 18 inches of any markings
- This service is free and required by Illinois law
Electric, natural gas, and internet services are provided by external companies. Contact them directly for billing, outages, and service requests.
📍 Availability varies by address
Not all providers serve every address in Gardner. Check with each provider directly to confirm service at your location. Speed and pricing are subject to change.
Questions about your utility bill?
Village Hall staff are happy to help with billing, new service, or account questions.