North-West Lake County Lake Michigan Water Planning Project View Project Map Project Overview County Board Member Bonnie Thomson Carter Gives Project Update - February 2011 The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has approved a request for Lake Michigan Water Allocations submitted by ten communities in northern and western Lake County. This is the first step in a complex, multi-step process to transition from ground water to Lake Michigan water in order to meet long-term water demands for this growing area. The North-West Lake County Lake Michigan Water Planning Group is made up of ten communities that have been working on this project for more than four years, conducting feasibility studies and developing the allocation requests. The communities include: Antioch, Fox Lake, Lake Villa, Lake Zurich, Lindenhurst, Long Grove, Volo, Wauconda, and Lake County (unincorporated areas of Fox Lake Hills and Grandwood Park). Feasibility studies have shown the aquifers in this area have limited capacity and are susceptible to impurities and contaminants. Also, demand for water has resulted in over-pumping of several aquifers creating low water levels and poor water quality. The next step is for the elected officials of the group to form a water agency and develop a financing plan. A potential initial funding source for the group is general obligation bonds, which could require a referendum in these communities to obtain voter approval. Once the financing plan is established, the group would proceed with design and construction of the necessary treatment, pumping and pipeline facilities. The total estimated cost is $250 million for a system that would use the existing intake facility at the Lake County Public Water District in Zion and require installation of 57 miles of pipeline. Each municipality would have its own local distribution system. About half of the cost would come from general obligation bonds to be funded by property taxes in these specific communities. The remainder would come from revenue bonds funded by monthly service charges on water bills. It is estimated that it will cost the average household about $40 per month more for Lake Michigan water delivered through this project. News Release: State Approves Lake Michigan Water Allocation for Ten Communities in Northern and Western Lake CountyJanuary 2011
View Project Map
Project Overview
County Board Member Bonnie Thomson Carter Gives Project Update - February 2011
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has approved a request for Lake Michigan Water Allocations submitted by ten communities in northern and western Lake County. This is the first step in a complex, multi-step process to transition from ground water to Lake Michigan water in order to meet long-term water demands for this growing area. The North-West Lake County Lake Michigan Water Planning Group is made up of ten communities that have been working on this project for more than four years, conducting feasibility studies and developing the allocation requests. The communities include: Antioch, Fox Lake, Lake Villa, Lake Zurich, Lindenhurst, Long Grove, Volo, Wauconda, and Lake County (unincorporated areas of Fox Lake Hills and Grandwood Park). Feasibility studies have shown the aquifers in this area have limited capacity and are susceptible to impurities and contaminants. Also, demand for water has resulted in over-pumping of several aquifers creating low water levels and poor water quality. The next step is for the elected officials of the group to form a water agency and develop a financing plan. A potential initial funding source for the group is general obligation bonds, which could require a referendum in these communities to obtain voter approval. Once the financing plan is established, the group would proceed with design and construction of the necessary treatment, pumping and pipeline facilities. The total estimated cost is $250 million for a system that would use the existing intake facility at the Lake County Public Water District in Zion and require installation of 57 miles of pipeline. Each municipality would have its own local distribution system. About half of the cost would come from general obligation bonds to be funded by property taxes in these specific communities. The remainder would come from revenue bonds funded by monthly service charges on water bills. It is estimated that it will cost the average household about $40 per month more for Lake Michigan water delivered through this project. News Release: State Approves Lake Michigan Water Allocation for Ten Communities in Northern and Western Lake CountyJanuary 2011
Feasibility studies have shown the aquifers in this area have limited capacity and are susceptible to impurities and contaminants. Also, demand for water has resulted in over-pumping of several aquifers creating low water levels and poor water quality.
The next step is for the elected officials of the group to form a water agency and develop a financing plan. A potential initial funding source for the group is general obligation bonds, which could require a referendum in these communities to obtain voter approval. Once the financing plan is established, the group would proceed with design and construction of the necessary treatment, pumping and pipeline facilities. The total estimated cost is $250 million for a system that would use the existing intake facility at the Lake County Public Water District in Zion and require installation of 57 miles of pipeline. Each municipality would have its own local distribution system. About half of the cost would come from general obligation bonds to be funded by property taxes in these specific communities. The remainder would come from revenue bonds funded by monthly service charges on water bills. It is estimated that it will cost the average household about $40 per month more for Lake Michigan water delivered through this project. News Release: State Approves Lake Michigan Water Allocation for Ten Communities in Northern and Western Lake CountyJanuary 2011
The total estimated cost is $250 million for a system that would use the existing intake facility at the Lake County Public Water District in Zion and require installation of 57 miles of pipeline. Each municipality would have its own local distribution system. About half of the cost would come from general obligation bonds to be funded by property taxes in these specific communities. The remainder would come from revenue bonds funded by monthly service charges on water bills. It is estimated that it will cost the average household about $40 per month more for Lake Michigan water delivered through this project.
News Release: State Approves Lake Michigan Water Allocation for Ten Communities in Northern and Western Lake CountyJanuary 2011
Frequently Asked QuestionsNovember 2009
Lake Michigan Water Feasibility Study - Engineering ReportNovember 2007 (PDF format 1720KB)
Amendment No.1 to Lake Michigan Water Feasibility Study - Engineering ReportSeptember 2008 (PDF format 5853KB)
847.377.7500PublicWorks@lakecountyil.gov 650 W. Winchester RoadLibertyville, Illinois 60048