Elmhurst Eyes Conservation-Promoting Water Rates

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst officials plan to look at tiered water rates that would rise steeply for the largest users.

Last year, the city enacted a 28 percent water rate increase.

Officials cited several reasons for the hike – inflation, federal mandates such as phosphorous removal from water, and a new policy calling for spending $5 million a year on water and sewer main replacements.

Although a 2023 rate study called for yearly hikes through 2031, the city said last fall that no increase was expected this year. One official said Elmhurst wanted to be "mindful" of the just-enacted 28 percent hike.

On Monday, the City Council's finance committee is set to review a proposal for a system in which rates go up along with water use. In September, consultants from Baxter & Woodman submitted a report to the city.

Under the proposed system, households using at least 35,000 gallons bi-monthly would pay 17 percent to 29 percent more. These users make up a small fraction of the total. Everyone else would see slight declines in rates.

The advantage of the current system is that it is simple and easy to understand, giving the billing system less room for error, according to the consultants.

The proposed rates encourage conservation, but may result in lower income because of less demand. Such a rate structure is harder to carry out within billing systems, the consultants said.

Their report said the city is not required to switch systems, but the rates needed to be "updated" in 2025.