Oswego eyes agreements as part of switch to Lake Michigan water

The Oswego Village Board Tuesday will consider resolutions authorizing the execution of agreements to formally join the DuPage Water Commission as part of the process to switch to Lake Michigan water.

Oswego, Yorkville and Montgomery decided in mid-December 2021 to change from relying on well water to Lake Michigan water via a connection through the DuPage Water Commission.

The Illinois State Water Survey has used projections showing the region could run out of ground water from the aquifer it currently uses in the next 20 to 40 years.

The planning process between the three municipalities began in 2014. The three communities have been on notice from the Illinois State Water Survey that the region’s aquifer is at “severe risk” of depletion, Oswego Village Administrator Dan Di Santo said in a report to trustees.

“Our wells have already seen declining production and are at risk of failure as soon as 2033, meaning that connection to an alternative water source is required,” Di Santo said.

The three communities decided in mid-December 2021 that Lake Michigan was the preferred option and since then have been working with the DuPage Water Commission for the transition.

The system connections will be from near 75th Street and Book Road in Naperville to one in Oswego and two in both Yorkville and Montgomery, Di Santo said.

Trustees in Oswego will have three separate agreements to consider that are necessary for the village to join the commission and move into the construction phase of the project, according to DiSanto.

Bidding for project construction is set to begin at the end of this year, with the first construction phase starting in early 2025, Di Santo said.

“Construction is expected to last through the end of 2027, with the water source switchover occurring in spring/summer 2028,” he said.

Yorkville and Montgomery are prepared to consider the same agreements when their boards meet on Oct. 8 and Oct. 14, respectively.

The DuPage Water Commission’s 30-member governing board will consider the agreements with the towns when they meet Oct. 17.

Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.