3 Reasons Why Elmhurst Water Bills Are High

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhurst officials agree the city's water and sewer rates are high compared to other towns.

On Monday, Alderwoman Noel Talluto spoke about the city's water bills. She said it was reasonable for residents to ask, "Why are Elmhurst water bills so high?"

Talluto gave three reasons:

1. Hard to compare — "Comparing Elmhurst bills to other cities' is like comparing apples to oranges," Talluto said. Some towns, she said, have fees that take in extra money for their water utilities that do not directly come from water bills.
2. Facilities — Some towns have newer water facilities. Elmhurst's plant was built in 1930, with its most recent major upgrade in the 1980s. "Newer facilities are easier and less costly to maintain. They have newer technology," Talluto said.
3. EPA mandates — Many towns have not met EPA-mandated phosphorus removal targets, which can cost millions of dollars, Talluto said. The city is doing so in its plan, and that drives its rates higher than communities that have not done so yet, she said. "Itasca is one community near us that has completed their phosphorous upgrades and their rates are higher than our rates and many other communities," Talluto said.

In a study released in January, city consultants recommended increasing water and sewer bills by 50 percent over the next decade.

Already, Elmhurst residents are paying more for water and sewer than most comparable suburbs, according to the study from Baxter & Woodman Consulting Engineers. Of 20 suburbs surveyed, Elmhurst households paid the fourth most. Those paying more are Clarendon Hills, Wheaton and Itasca.

On Monday, Talluto, chairwoman of the city's finance committee, presented her panel's recommendation to hike water and sewer rates 4.25 percent. That amounts to about $50 a year for a family of four, according to the city.

Talluto called the rate plan that Baxter & Woodman proposed "proactive" and "reasonable."

"We are a community that is planning," she said.

Alderman Bob Dunn agreed.

"This is a very old plant we have. Everything that goes in there costs millions of dollars," he said. "A 4.25 percent increase is reasonable."

The council unanimously voted for the rate hike. Aldermen Brian Cahill and Tina Park were absent.

The last rate increase was in April 2019, according to the city.