County to fix water mains

Lake County officials plan to spend about $1.7 million replacing water mains this year.

The work, planned to run from May through December, will target the Wildwood and Arbor Vista water systems near Grayslake and the Knollwood/Rondout system near Mettawa. It's designed to reduce repeated main breaks, officials said.

"(These pipes) have had a history of breaks or deterioration, and we target the worst areas every year for replacement," said Peter Kolb, the county's public works superintendent. "Much of the pipe that we have in the ground is 50 years old and some of it is cast iron, and that just deteriorates."

About 7,900 feet of water main will be replaced under the plan. Crews will install plastic pipes that should last 75 to 100 years, Kolb said.

A community development block grant will cover about $73,000 of the cost, officials said.

The county board's public works and transportation committee agreed last week to seek construction bids for the project. Any proposals are set to be opened March 20.

The committee and the full county board could vote on a contract in April.

In the Grayslake area, water mains beneath Orchard Lane, Eastview Road, Thornapple Road, Battershall Road, Linden Avenue and Forest Drive are scheduled for replacement.

In the Mettawa area, mains beneath Twin Drive and Mettawa Lane are set to be replaced.

The county spent about $1.9 million to replace water mains near Grayslake, Vernon Hills, Mundelein and Buffalo Grove in 2007. About 10,000 feet of water main was replaced last year.