The Lake Zurich Village Board met Jan. 22 for a special meeting where officials considered new sources of water for the village.
Currently, the village gets its water from local wells. But as the village continues to grow, those wells might not be enough and, with costly radioactive waste disposal fees, cheaper options—including getting Lake Michigan water—could be more sustainable, officials discussed.
Two representatives from Engineering Enterprises Inc., the company that has been exploring water options for the village over a year, were at the board meeting Saturday and answered questions from the trustees. However, no vote was taken and the meeting was intended only to direct future exploration.
At the top of the meeting, Mayor Tom Poynton provided a brief history of the village’s water supply. Since the early 20th Century, the village has relied on local wells for water. But in 2011, the village was granted an allocation of Lake Michigan water. The very next year, Lake Zurich leaders commissioned a water study to weigh the benefits of Lake Michigan water and learned at that time that local wells might not produce enough water in 30 to 40 years – making Lake Michigan water a likely safer option. However, to get water from the lake, the village must contract with a water supply agency.
According to village documents, Lake Zurich contracted with Engineering Enterprises Inc. in Oct. 2020 for a comprehensive study to consider the long-term viability and cost of maintaining the deep well system in place.
Poynton said the meeting Saturday was supposed to be informational and educational, and there would be no action taken. It would just be a precursor to future board action.
“This issue and any other issues may appear on an agenda of a future board meeting,” Poynton explained.
Steve Dennison and Jeff Freeman, of Engineering Enterprises, addressed the board and presented three possible Lake Michigan water suppliers. The representatives asked the board to think about which one or two should be given further consideration – based on sustainability, cost efficacy, regulatory compliance and water quality.
All three possible supplies provided good water quality, were compliant with current regulations and all seemed to offer similar sustainability. Since with each supplier the water would come from the same lake, cost of delivery to Lake Zurich was the big factor – though the issue of local control also popped up.
Dennison said he agreed with earlier predictions that the local wells could probably continue serving the community for several decades, but they are also aging and a source of radioactive waste, specifically radium. At present, the local system filters the radium and it’s safe to drink. But the waste must be transported to Idaho for disposal, and before it’s removed, it sits onsite next to a school.
“It’s essentially low-level radioactive waste that you’re storing on site,” Dennison said.
Poynton said the local water is safe for customers.
“Our water supply as currently provided is 100% safe,” the mayor said.
“Absolutely,” Dennison agreed. “We have not seen anyone with better quality than you.”
He was referring to the communities that use groundwater.
One popular Lake Michigan water supplier option is Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency, or CLCJAWA, which is offering to bring Lake Zurich on as a member as opposed to as a customer. A membership would cost the village $20 million, which it could pay off over time, but it would also allow the village some decision-making authority in terms of water costs, utility repairs and other system-wide expenses. The membership cost could be paid in part via federal and state funding, and after the initial buy-in, the water rates would be $1.63 per 1,000 gallons, Village Board members learned.
Another benefit of CLCJAWA is that it features newer transmission lines than the other Lake Michigan water supplier, according to data presented.
However, none of the proposed providers have lead lines, so no system would have to undergo any major lead abatement treatments or replacements, according to information presented to trustees.
Trustee Marc Spacone said he felt it was appropriate to look ahead at the future of Lake Zurich’s water supply because even local water production is getting more costly.
“It is increased regulations, year by year, from a regulations standpoint just to maintain pure water,” he said, adding that he also worried about the long-term issue of the local water supply.
Spacone said any change could be more expensive in the short term, but eventually the local solution would be costly as well.
“It’s going to be more expensive. But guess what, all these treatment options are going to be more expensive, too,” Spacone said. He added that the lake is more sustainable in any event.
Another joint action water agency the trustees seemed interested in is the Northwest Suburban Municipal JAWA, which is Chicago based. It has the highest water rates at $5.70 per 1,000 gallons but also offers the highest capacity for water, and apparently the group is eagerly seeking new customers.
Despite the higher customer cost for water, Trustee Dan Bobrowski asked Dennison and Freeman to see whether NSMJAWA could lower their rates if they were so eager to get new customers.
“What are we actually controlling by having a seat at a table? Are we controlling costs,” Bobrowski asked, regarding the benefits of membership versus being a customer. “If you look at other utilities, we’re not members of electricity or gas providers, we’re customers. So, I don’t know what we’d be controlling if we’re members.”
But Poynton said he liked the idea of being a member.
“I can’t control what a burger at Burger King will cost one day to the next, and that’s what I’m concerned about without having a seat at the table,” the mayor said.
But, in the end, Poynton said he’s open to exploring what at least one of the joint action water agencies can offer.
Bobrowski said he mostly wants to see if NSMJAWA can drop its rates to $1.50.
Dennison and Freeman agreed to look into it.
There was a third option, the Northwest Water Commission JAWA, through Evanston. The price would be just under $2 per 1,000 gallons, but the facility is almost at maximum capacity as it is and they support the Arlington Heights community. A trustee pointed out that if the Bears move to Arlington Heights, NWCJAWA might not have enough water for Lake Zurich’s expansion in the coming decades, so that was the least popular option.
The board will be revisiting the issue when Freeman and Dennison bring back information on the water fees for NSMJAWA and the costs of CLCJAWA membership. In the meantime, the mayor instructed village administrators to ask neighboring communities about joining Lake Zurich in signing up for a joint action water agency membership as a way to further reduce costs.
Jesse Wright is a freelancer.
