Romeoville Forms, Joins Grand Prairie Water Commission

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Romeoville has joined Crest Hill, Joliet, Channahon, Minooka and Shorewood in forming the Grand Prairie Water Commission. The commission will work to provide adequate supplies of water on an "economical and cost-effective basis" for the towns, including providing a joint waterworks system and a common source of water supply of Lake Michigan water, according to the commission website.

Romeoville has long been discussing an alternate water supply, and in 2021, it received an update on its study and learned that the aquifers it uses will not be sustainable come 2040-2070. The Village currently draws water from six deep wells and seven shallow wells throughout the town.

In February, the Village Board approved joining a regional water commission for Lake Michigan water. In a news release earlier this year, the Village said that Lake Michigan water won't begin flowing until at least 2030.

The project will include construction of a new direct pipeline from Chicago. "When done, Romeoville will be the second-largest user of the new system, accounting for 11.25 percent of the total demand," according to the February news release.

The project is still in the conceptual phase, according to the commission website. Estimated costs for the program range from $600 to $800 million.

According to the commission website, final design will occur in 2022-2024, and construction will take place from 2024 to 2030.