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Glenview to study sales of water to Des Plaines
Updated: April 2, 2012 8:55AM
Glenview has agreed to fund a study that could help village revenues by selling drinkable water to Des Plaines.
Des Plaines officials are considering buying water from Wilmette and pumping it through Glenview at a cost.
Infrastructure upgrades are needed in each village, which will share the study’s $147,000 price tag at $49,000 each.
Tim Oakley, Des Plaines’ director of Public Works and Engineering, said the village purchases water from Chicago, where charges have skyrocketed for all water customers.
“It’s the cost of Chicago water, plain and simple,” said Oakley, explaining yearly 15 percent increases will cost Des Plaines an added $4 million by 2015.
“Chicago’s making up the difference the city needs in revenue,” Oakley said.
The Wilmette Village Board was scheduled to vote on joining the study Tuesday after press time, while Des Plaines trustees could decide on Monday.
Joe Kenney, director of Capital Projects in Glenview, said the study would last three months.
“There is a potential for Glenview to get some revenues. Des Plaines would buy water wholesale from Wilmette and Glenview,” he said.
The study will identify possible improvements for Wilmette’s water treatment plant to supply more water to downstream customers.
In Wilmette and Glenview, a number of pumping and transmission upgrades may be needed to send water to Des Plaines.
Currently, Des Plaines receives water from its south side, but the new plan would require getting water at the northeast corner.
The study will identify costs in bringing in the new water supply to the different location.
The Glenview Village Board approved funding the study Feb. 21.
In November 2011, Glenview trustees voted to increase water rates to cover the rising costs of buying Lake Michigan water from Chicago through Wilmette.
Effective Jan. 1, home water consumption rates went to $7.86 quarterly fixed charge, up from $7.35, as well as $4.55 per 1,000 gallons used, up from $4.21 per 1,000 gallons used, stated a village report.
For most residents, the increase averages $20 on water and sewer bills, based on 12,000 gallons of water consumed per quarter.
“Nearly half of the increase in the consumption rate is due to the rate increase charged to Glenview by Wilmette,” the report said.
