Oswego's Drinking Water Supply Could Run Out By 2050: Village

OSWEGO, IL — The village is looking to secure a new source of drinking water as the current one might run out within the next 2-3 decades. The Oswego Village Board approved a contract with Mokena-based Baxter and Woodman during its Tuesday meeting, for an alternative water source evaluation study.

The contract approved by the board is set not to exceed $280,000, and was budgeted for in the village's Water Capital Improvement Program. Baxter and Woodman initially estimate the cost to be $252,461, but there are a lot of unknowns with this evaluation. If it appears that the cap will be exceeded as the project progresses, it will again be brought before the board for consideration.

According to village documents, Oswego’s existing water source, the deep groundwater aquifer, will be at severe risk of depletion and no longer able to meet the maximum daily water demand sometime between 2030 and 2050. Groundwater modeling conducted by the Illinois State Water Survey indicates that the groundwater will eventually fall below the level of the existing well system due to the high area demand and the comparatively slow rate of recharge within the aquifer.

The village previously commissioned three related water studies. These studies evaluated future needs as the village grew and looked at two different options for a sustainable and reliable water source, not only for Oswego, but with the consideration for Yorkville and Montgomery as well.

One study focused on the viability of obtaining water from the Fox River, and the other considered a connection to the DuPage Water Commission line that would bring in Lake Michigan water.

Baxter and Woodman's scope of work includes:

• Determining the feasibility of connecting Oswego’s system to Joliet.
• Evaluating up to three potential supply routes and connection points to evaluate construction methods and potential impact to property owners, utilities and other agencies.
• Identify receiving station/pumping station/storage requirements.
• Identify potential for expansion for the proposed connections based upon future needs of the village.
• Identify potential barriers or concerns with each connection.
• Participate in the Joliet planning process regarding supply to Oswego.
• Develop preliminary opinion of probable costs including costs for construction of the improvements, design, construction engineering, and construction costs.
• Review previous Fox River and DuPage Water Commission reports to equalize data between the three supply options.

Read the full list of services here.

During the Tuesday meeting the board also voted to approve the hiring of Caminer Law, LLC., as special counsel for the village for the specialized legal documents that come with choosing a new water source.

More recently, the city of Joliet approached the village with an option to receive Lake Michigan water through a new pipeline that is currently under design and anticipated to be operational in 2030. Joliet, however, needs other municipalities to make a commitment to the project by next May. And so, a quick turnaround time will be required from Oswego.

The consultant will also be asked to consider if building a new well would give Oswego extra time before it needs to get off of the aquifer, or if connecting to a new source earlier than 2030 would give extra time or eliminate the need for a well.

Baxter and Woodman will need to present a draft report to the village by Dec. 14 for the board to approve Feb. 16, 2021.

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