New Water Tower Nears Completion

Residents of western Northbrook can expect to see some relief from low water pressure soon, as a new, nears completion.

Construction began on the one million-gallon tank at 201 Huehl Road last December, when crews excavated the foundation and poured concrete. Ten months later, the tower stands tall, painted white with the word “Northbrook” emblazoned in blue capital letters visible from the Edens Spur.

Just a few small interior projects remain and those should be finished by the end of October, according to Kelly Hamill, Northbrook’s director of public works.

“The next phase of the tower project will be the actual filling of the tower,” he told members of the board of trustees at a village board meeting Tuesday. 

“Right now the plan is to have that operating normally come December.”

The new tower is designed to alleviate low-pressure problems that have plagued the western half of Northbrook for years. The village’s original water tower, located behind the (and famously painted with “Save Ferris” for the filming of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) was constructed when most homes were still located east of Pfingsten, and was tall enough to keep water pressure in the ideal range. As the village spread west into slightly higher ground, the new tower could not provide sufficient pressure to residents on the other side of Pfingsten, particularly during the summer months when water demand was at its peak. 

Northbrook hopes that problem will be solved when the new water tower comes online in December. To fill the tank, crews will gradually release water from the old tower into the new one, then begin pumping once water levels equalize in the two structures. 

“You will see a noticeable increase in the pressure, depending on where you live in town,” Hamill said.

Because of the greater stress the increased water pressure will create, villagers could see a temporary uptick in water main breaks as weak spots in the system are revealed, Hamill added. There is also the possibility that the increased pressure will temporarily disturb rusty or discolored water in household pipes. In that case, residents should let their cold faucets run for approximately five minutes, he said.

After the new water tower goes into action, the old one will no longer be needed, according to Hamill. But the famous “Save Ferris” tower will be saved—temporarily, at least. Both U.S. Cellular and Cricket have lease agreements with the village to operate cell phone towers on the old water tank. So long as village crews determine that the water tower is structurally sound when empty, it will remain in place at least through the end of the leases in 2013, so the village can keep collecting revenue.

The practice of putting cell phone towers on water towers is very common, Hamill said. 

“There’s a value in well developed areas,” he said. “It’s an additional source of revenue.”    

The new water tower is already in demand for cell phone carriers, specifically T-Mobile and Sprint.

Villagers who experience problems as the new tower is being filled and brought into use are advised to contact the Public Works department at 847-272-4711.