Northbrook public works urges residents to sign up for Water Smart portal after leak alerts find leaks in many homes

Deputy Public Works Director Matt Morrison updated the board on the village's ongoing water meter replacements and the Water Smart customer portal now available to households with new meters. Morrison said the portal sends continuous-usage alerts that homeowners can adjust (for example, changing a 2-gallon-per-hour threshold to a higher number) to reduce false positives and better match household patterns.

Morrison told trustees that Public Works has visited many homes after alerts and found leaks in roughly 60% of those visits; the most common sources are toilets and irrigation systems. He encouraged residents to register for the Water Smart portal and to use its tutorials and leak-detection guidance. Morrison gave a contact for assistance with registration or questions: the village water billing department at (847) 664-4171.

Trustees suggested the village promote the portal via social media or short instructional materials to reduce call volume and help residents interpret alerts. Morrison confirmed the portal currently works only for residents who have had their meters changed and that the rollout to the entire community remains in progress.

Why it matters: The portal aims to reduce water loss and billing surprises by giving residents earlier notice of unusual usage; the board noted both the portal's benefits and the need for outreach to reduce confusion and unnecessary alarms.

Next steps: Staff will continue to register residents with replaced meters, refine leak-alert settings based on experience, and consider outreach (social media, short videos or graphics) to help homeowners use the portal effectively.