Des Plaines building 5,000-foot pipe to cheaper water source
Des Plaines is paying $3 million for a new water main that city officials believe will serve as the link to water that will cost less than what Chicago charges.
The 5,000-foot, 24-inch transmission water line will be installed from the city's pumping station and reservoir at 877 Central Road to the Northwest Water Commission, 1525 N. Wolf Road.
Last fall, Des Plaines inked a 20-year agreement to buy water from the commission - a deal approved by the four member towns of the commission: Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Palatine and Wheeling. Those towns all receive their water from Evanston.
Des Plaines started exploring an alternative water source in 2012, when Chicago began hiking water rates. Officials say Des Plaines stands to save up to $10,000 a day by connecting to the Northwest Water Commission's water supply.
The city plans to buy up to 5 million gallons a day from the commission, plus 2 million gallons a day from Chicago to keep Des Plaines' water tank - on Maple Street south of Touhy Avenue - operational.
The city's Central Road pumping station on the north side of town is about a mile from the water commission's tank, and the city will be using a ComEd right of way to construct the new water pipe.
The city council on Monday approved a $3 million contract with Wauconda-based Berger Excavating Contractors to build the pipe and make improvements at the commission to meter and control the flow into the new water main.
Aldermen also agreed to pay a $359,000 one-time fee to ComEd for a 15-foot permanent easement and 75-foot temporary easement for construction.
In total, Des Plaines has budgeted $6 million this year and next year to construct the pipeline and make improvements to the city pumping station, much of it being funded by the city's share of Rivers Casino revenues.
Construction is expected to begin next month and be substantially complete by March 2016.