$47 Million Project To Replace Evanston's Oldest Water Intake To Begin

EVANSTON, IL — A construction project to replace a 114-year-old water intake pipeline at the Evanston Water Utility, which supplies drinking water to the nearly a half-million people who live in Evanston or one of the municipalities that buys its water.

The old intake is the oldest of three that bring water from Lake Michigan to the water plant. It has a diameter of 36 to 42 inches, while the new pipeline will have a 60-inch diameter. It will extend about a mile out into Lake Michigan, ending with nine inlet cones with 10.5-foot diameters.

Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-March and be complete by the end of 2024, according to city staff.

The first phase of the project will begin with contractor mobilization and shore-side work north of Lincoln Street Beach, with work hours from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

A second phase, set to start in July, will include underwater excavation and pipeline installation in Lake Michigan.

Work on the second phase will continue around the clock, as conditions permit, though weekend and holiday work will not be allowed for the first 1,000 feet of pipeline installation near the shore. Work will pause in fall 2023 when lake conditions make it untenable and start back up in spring 2024.

State and federal low-interest loan programs are providing the funding for the project. A loan from the federal Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program is covering $31.1 million of the cost. Another $20.4 million comes from the State Revolving Fund Public Water Supply Loan Program, according to staff.

Design updates in the new intake will provide enhanced reliability and resiliency, according to staff, including increased protection from hazards by burying the intake in the lake bed, a larger diameter pipeline to account for fluctuations in lake levels and provide provide adequate water supply, design updates to slow the flow of water to better prevent animals from becoming entrapped and a heating system and flow meters to monitor and prevent ice from blocking the water intake.