Officials on Friday announced a $2 million infrastructure project for Dixmoor that’s meant to help prevent a repeat of what happened last fall when residents were without water for two weeks.
The funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will result in a new water line that will replace an aging line and help improve water flow to homes.
The corps will oversee the project, with construction getting started by spring of next year, according to Paul Culberson, the corps’ district commander, who spoke at a news conference in Dixmoor.
Last October, homes were without clean drinking water following a water line break, and the issue wasn’t resolved until the beginning of November.
The funding will help “ensure the residents of Dixmoor won’t have to worry about being without water,” U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Matteson, said at the news conference.
Cook County Commissioner Deborah Sims, whose 5th District includes Dixmoor, said that while the breakdown in the village’s water system caused hardships for the village’s 3,500 residents, it had a silver lining.
“I’m glad it happened,” Sims said at the news conference. “It brought attention to the failing infrastructure of the south suburbs.”
Dixmoor isn’t alone among south suburban communities with aging infrastructure, such as leaking water lines that can end up inflating homeowners’ water bills.
The costs of major overhauls on water and sewer systems often outstrips the resources in the towns, many of which are low-income.
Dixmoor is a predominantly Black and Latino community, with 20% of its residents living below the poverty line, according to 2010 census data.
Echoing Sims’ comments about infrastructure needs, state Rep. Will Davis, D-Homewood, said greater funding sources are needed to remedy the problems.
“While this is a great start, we need much, much more money” throughout the south suburbs, he said.
Dixmoor Mayor Fitzgerald Roberts said the village “has been suffering for years with this water issue.”
“It has really hindered Dixmoor,” he said.
When water pressure dropped Oct. 16, Dixmoor initially pointed the finger at Harvey, which it buys Lake Michigan water from, and Harvey officials insisted the problem was in Dixmoor.
Ultimately, a leak in a water line in Dixmoor that was gushing hundreds of gallons of water a minute was identified as the culprit.
In early March, Dixmoor residents were again under a boil order for a few days following a water main break.
The work being done by the corps includes 3,600 feet of 12-inch-diameter water line that will run under Interstate 57 and could be completed within a year once construction gets underway, Culberson said.
mnolan@tribpub.com
