Why Are Water Bills Up In La Grange?

LA GRANGE, IL — La Grange officials say they have received a number of calls about higher water bills in the last few months.

They say the likely answer is that water use went up in the summer because of hot and dry weather, prompting residents to use more water to irrigate their lawns.

According to the village's finance department, water use has risen about 20 percent across town.

"As the summer went on, there was drier weather," Ryan Gillingham, the village's public works director, said at Monday's virtual meeting of the Village Board. "I think that, combined with people being at home, resulted in much higher than average water use."

Finance Director Lou Cipparrone said his department has received calls about the higher bills and explained the situation.

"It resolved a lot of the questions," he said.

Because of new water system technology that the village received in 2013, it can quickly pinpoint likely reasons for greater water use, Gillingham said. The hourly information indicates whether higher water use can be blamed on irrigation or something like a leaking toilet, he said.

In September, Patch reported that Western Springs had seen its water use rise 23 percent over the summer. Water use in Elmhurst and Burr Ridge increased 11 percent and 28 percent, respectively.