The water tower that loomed over a groundbreaking ceremony in New Lenox earlier this month should be filled with Lake Michigan water in a little over a year.
“It’s a project that’s taken a decade in the making,” Mayor Mike Smith told a crowd of 70 people gathered under the Joliet Highway tower to mark the start of construction work on the pipeline that will carry lake water from Tinley Park through Mokena into New Lenox.
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The switch will replace mineral-laden water from local wells with higher-quality Lake Michigan water. Smith said the project entailed the cooperation of Mokena, Tinley Park, Oak Lawn and Chicago, and the help of many officials on all levels of government.
A lake water supply will enhance the quality of life in New Lenox and also stimulate growth, Smith said.
Financial help from a low-interest $10 million loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will save taxpayers about $4 million, the mayor said, and residents can expect to see water rates remain stable.
The $12 million construction project, which includes building a pumping station and laying 64,000 feet of water pipeline, will start in earnest in the next few weeks, said engineer Brett Postl, who designed the project.
“The year 2000 will be very active with laying pipe in the ground,” he said.
A lake water supply will make New Lenox a more attractive location, Economic Development Director Randall Lohman said. “It’s important for development purposes to have a good-quality supply of water available,” he said.