The City of Joliet executed a memorandum of understanding at Tuesday’s Joliet council meeting for Romeoville to join the new regional commission that will bring water from Lake Michigan to several southwestern suburbs in Will County.
In anticipation of Romeoville board approval, the community will become the sixth and final member of the Regional Water Commission that the City of Joliet began forming more than a year ago. By sharing the cost of water between the communities in the commission, it is believed that the source will become more affordable for residents.
Towns already in the commission are Crest Hill, Shorewood, Joliet, Minooka, and Joliet. Following Joliet, Romeoville would consume the next largest water user in the commission. Joliet officials estimate the project to bring Lake Michigan water to the communities could cost more than $800 million.
The City of Joliet’s existing water source will no longer by sustainable by 2030 if the current water usage does not change. The goal is to provide the city with Lake Michigan water by 2030. New infrastructure will be built near the existing Chicago Southwest Pumping Station, and it will be owned, operated, maintained, and overseen by the water commission.
Last December, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation allowing the creation of a Joliet-area commission for Lake Michigan water. Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk said, “This will enable us to address our drinking water needs as a region for the benefit of generations to come.”
Joliet in January 2021 approved an agreement with the City of Chicago to bring Lake Michigan water to Joliet. Lemont opted against joining the commission.
Despite the formation of the commission, many Joliet residents are apprehensive about the merger.
“I am scared how much our water bills will be increasing,” said Sheila Jackson of Joliet. “We just cannot afford to pay hundreds of dollars for water each month.”
Joliet residents now pay about $34 per month for water usage, according to records. But city officials have said water rates may need to triple to pay the debt on the construction and land acquisition for the pipeline. news@thetimesweekly.com
