Should Oswego Get Lake Michigan Water?

OSWEGO, IL — The Village of Oswego is looking into the possibility of switching to Lake Michigan water, and wants to get the nearby towns of Montgomery and Oswego on board. Village President Gail Johnson discussed the possibility during her State of the Village Address Tuesday at the Kendall 11 GDX Theater, according to the Beacon News.

Johnson said village officials previously believed their only alternative to well water was Fox River water, and that Lake Michigan water would be too costly, but that may no longer be the case.

Johnson also said officials will be looking into the costs of connecting with the DuPage Water Commission to bring in Lake Michigan water. According to the Beacon, she said nearby Yorkville has expressed interest in also bringing in Lake Michigan water, but Montgomery officials were less enthused.

About 80 percent of towns in the Chicago region get Lake Michigan water, with many purchasing water from the City of Chicago. Recent years have seen frequent price increases from the city, even though the wholesale cost of Lake Michigan water has stabilized, according to the nearby Village of Plainfield.

The DuPage Water Commission has been providing Lake Michigan water to area communities since 1992, most recently extending service to Bartlett. A groundbreaking ceremony for construction of water lines to bring Lake Michigan to Bartlett is set for March 6, and the village should begin receiving Lake Michigan water by 2019. The EPA awarded Bartlett a one-time $485,000 grant to fund the project. According to the Courier News, making the switch from receiving Elgin water to Lake Michigan water is anticipated to make the average resident's water bill increase from $38.16 per month to between $72 and $83.

Watch the State of the Village here:

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