Montgomery will receive $2 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds through Kendall County for replacement of water mains.
Village trustees approved a resolution Monday for the funds. Kendall County approved the agreement on Feb. 7, according to Montgomery officials.
One reason for the replacement project to be done in the Boulder Hill subdivision is that the water mains there were made of cast iron, officials said.
The new water mains will be made of ductile iron that doesn’t crack, according to officials. Most of the new areas in Montgomery have that type of water main.
Montgomery is aiming to replace all water mains in the village that were constructed prior to 1970.
Village Engineer Pete Wallers said the work is needed and the influx of the federal funds is welcome.
Montgomery’s water system has been a focus of the village lately. Montgomery recently moved to get drinking water from Lake Michigan via the DuPage Water Commission. Village leaders are working with Oswego and Yorkville on that project.
The Illinois State Water Survey several years ago released projections showing the region’s deep aquifer is at severe risk of depletion and would no longer be able to meet the maximum daily water demand for the towns sometime between 2030 and 2050. That led to the towns studying the issue and deciding on Lake Michigan as the best option for drinking water.
The project would include 29 miles of transmission mains to connect Oswego, Montgomery and Yorkville to the existing DuPage Water Commission system, according to consultant documents.
The communities sit right along the Fox River, but studies have shown it is not a sustainable drinking water option for the towns, officials said.
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Montgomery is also undertaking a survey to discover any leaks in the water system. Officials say the goal is to find places where water is leaking and get those issues fixed long before Lake Michigan water is piped into the system.
Judy Pochel is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.