For years, Lake Zurich mayor and village trustees have been looking at an alternative water source for the village, and after a vote at the Village Board meeting earlier this month, they got a step closer.
The village is looking to switch from using local wells to having Lake Michigan water.
Trustee Marc Spacone told the board at its April 3 meeting that Boston-based CDM Smith Inc. – which has offices in Chicago and west suburban Lisle – recommends using the lake water as a more sustainable source.
“As part of the evaluation, CDM Smith is providing recommendations for additional facilities and improvements needed to maintain system pressure, fire flows and other established system criteria to provide Lake Michigan water as the water source for Lake Zurich,” Spacone said, ahead of a presentation by CDM Smith.
The village already has state approval for the move to getting Lake Michigan water, but at the board meeting, a representative from the engineering and construction firm laid out the benefits. He also explained that a new system would include a backup, and maintain current pressure and water quality.
In total, the project could cost as much as $152 million and would take at least two years to implement, officials explained. The village’s water supply would then be managed by Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency, which provides water to much of the county – a reason l it became a leading contender to be Lake Zurich’s water supplier.
Amaro Tassi, from CDM Smith, said the water service would provide the same service and pressure as exists now in the village, but with a better supply. In addition, there will be about 8,000 feet of new pipe installed in the village to ensure proper water pressure.
“The agency owns infrastructure throughout the county … so extending that approximately seven-mile pipeline is just part of the agency’s system that exists in Lake County,” Tassi said.
The plan looks to future developments, and Tassi said that would require some 3.4 million gallons per day. He said the village would also want to keep two backup wells in addition to water reservoirs in water towers.
Tassi said most villages and towns use state loans to fund water projects because the interest rate is less than 2%, though Lake Zurich’s could be lowerl. The loans have a 20-year lifespan.
“You would qualify for a further reduction of interest rates, as you’re a smaller community,” he said, but didn’t offer a specific interest rate.
However, he said the loan could fund nearly everything – aside from easement rights and a few other things – if the village needed that.
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The board seemed pleased with the plan and voted to establish a resolution of intent, giving a path forward to go with the Lake Michigan water plan with CLCJAWA. This is the first step to establish exact costs and other details and doesn’t commit the village to the plan.
“I can tell you I think this is the right solution for the village going forward,” said Trustee Dan Bobrowski.
He said he’s very conscious about what he puts in his body and he appreciates how clean the water is.
CLCJAWA Executive Director Bill Soucie, who was also on hand at the meeting, assured residents that water quality is measured hourly by hand and more often by computers in addition to outside testing and assessment of the source water.
“Our position is to know more about our water than anyone else,” he said. “We have a lot of safety built into our system.”
Village Manager Ray Keller said there could be a rate hike, but there would be anyway because of the aging infrastructure of the existing system.
“We still have an aging distribution system but as we replace pipes, other pipes get older,” he said.
He said water rate revenue will probably pay for the transition, though it’s not yet clear how much rates will be affected until the project begins its bidding.
Jesse Wright is a freelancer.