Options for a new water source for the village of Montgomery will be the focus of an open house from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. this Wednesday, Nov. 3 at Village Hall, 200 North River Street.
The village along with neighboring Oswego and Yorkville are individually and collectively seeking to identify a new water source in the wake of the Illinois State Water Survey determining that the water supply in the deep well aquifer from which all three communities pump their water is being depleted and by 2050 may be at a severe risk of not meeting local water demand.
Engineering Enterprises, Inc. of Sugar Grove, the village’s engineering consultants, has completed a study examining the potential costs to the village for developing a regional water treatment plant with neighboring Oswego and Yorkville that would draw water from the Fox River.
The study also examined the costs and feasibility of connecting the village’s water system to the city of Aurora’s and obtaining Lake Michigan water through either the DuPage Water Commission or the newly forming Joliet Area Water Commission.
Another potential water source that would provide the village with Lake Michigan water via a private utility known as Illinois Lake Water of Plainfield, was also examined in the study.
The study estimated the village’s capital cost to construct its own water treatment plant that would draw water from the Fox River at just more than $72.3 million, while the estimated the capital cost to connect to the city of Aurora’s water system would be just more than $78 million. The village’s share of the capital cost to develop a regional water treatment plant with Oswego and Yorkville was estimated at more than $87.4 million in the study.
The study also estimated the capital cost to the village to connect and obtain Lake Michigan water through the DuPage Water Commission at $100 million and the cost to connect and obtain lake water through the Joliet Area Water Commission at just over $119.6 million.
No matter what option the village board eventually chooses, village water customers should expect to pay significantly more for their water service in the years ahead to cover the village’s increased capital and other costs.
According to the study, a typical monthly water bill of $48.80 on the village’s existing water system will increase to $60.55 by 2030, based on an annual water rate increase of 5.5%. But that same bill would be $90.49 a month in 2030 if the village were to begin operation of its own water treatment plant and $92.37 if the village were to partner with Oswego and Yorkville in operating a plant.
The study estimated the monthly bills would range between $97.21 and $106.41 if the village were to receive Lake Michigan water through the DuPage Water Commission and $100.35 if the village were to connect to the city of Aurora system.
After Wednesday’s open house, the board will continue its discussions concerning the future water source during a workshop meeting set for Saturday, Nov. 13.
Source: The Daily Chronicle
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