Buffalo Grove-area residents who were promised improved water with the opening of the Lake County Pekara Water System are still waiting on the switch from well water, with county leaders saying the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has delayed approvals for the changeover.
The exact reasons for the delay are not clear, and the IEPA did not respond to a request for comment, but County Board Member Marah Altenberg, who represents the area, said the state agency has put additional layers of approvals and conditions on the project, with the IEPA re-examining the system’s water pipes.
Altenberg emphasized that the Pekara Water System was done “all by the book” and was otherwise ready to move ahead.
“It’s very frustrating,” Altenberg said. “I’m frustrated for my constituents in Pekara. They were expecting Lake Michigan water already. I’m disappointed the state is moving so slowly.”
According to a county release, the Lake County Department of Public Works is working “closely” with the IEPA through the process, but the review is taking “longer than anticipated.”
Water changeovers require review under the IEPA’s Source Water Assessment Program, with the agency evaluating the system to ensure high water-quality standards are met and that the transition won’t negatively impact the pipes serving homes, the release said.
“While the review is taking longer than expected, LCPW remains committed to working directly with the IEPA and moving forward responsibly to ensure a safe and smooth transition,” the release said.
Approval is anticipated in the next few months, according to the release. At that point, customers will be notified of the scheduled changeover date, and the system will be flushed to remove any remaining well water.
The change may cause temporary water cloudiness, but should be “relatively seamless, with minimal to no interruptions in water service.”
Pekara Water System
The new system, a $2.7 million project partially covered by $1.1 million in federal COVID-relief funds, will offer residents better-tasting water with reduced mineral content, as well as reducing wear on plumbing and appliances and eliminating the need for water softeners, officials have said.
The project includes a 20-year agreement between the county and the village of Buffalo Grove for water to be provided via the Northwest Water Commission.
