Oswego’s move to tap into Lake Michigan water with a connection through the DuPage Water Commission has cleared a key hurdle, village officials said.
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The village announced in a news release that it has recently received its Lake Michigan water allocation permit from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources which allows the project to move on to the next steps.
“We’re excited to receive the permit to access Lake Michigan water from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources,” Oswego Village President Ryan Kauffman said.
The village received authorization Aug. 10 to begin receiving Lake Michigan water in 2027, Oswego Public Works Director Jennifer Hughes said in a report to trustees.
Oswego, Yorkville and Montgomery decided in mid-December 2021 to change from relying on well water to Lake Michigan water. The Illinois State Water Survey has used projections showing the region could run out of ground water from the aquifer it uses in the next 20 to 40 years.
Oswego had to meet several criteria for permission to access Lake Michigan water including evidence that the aquifer it uses is no longer able to meet the community’s needs and that other water source alternatives are not as viable, according to the release.
The village is partnering with Yorkville and Montgomery to share the cost of bringing in Lake Michigan water to the three towns. Oswego’s share is currently estimated at approximately $73 million.
The permit approval process for Yorkville and Montgomery is pending, officials said.
Oswego trustees as a committee of the whole Tuesday will have a discussion about proposed water and sewer rates, which are part of the formula to cover the cost of the project.
The village has also looked to federal grants to help fund a portion of the project. In addition, the village with voter approval via a referendum in 2022 established a real estate transfer tax to generate revenue to help offset some of the cost of the Lake Michigan water connection.
Hughes said she will provide an overview to trustees on Tuesday of the rates “necessary to support” the connection to Lake Michigan water plus pay for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the existing water and sewer systems.
The board Tuesday will be asked to provide input on several areas, including when to begin implementing water and sewer rate increases, how to scale increases and steps to minimize the impact on seniors and low-income residents.
“Suffice it to say that connection to the DuPage Water Commission, along with increases associated with routine maintenance of our water and sewer systems, will require the village to raise rates,” Hughes said in a report trustees.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.