DuPage Co. targeting water, sewer scofflaws

Somewhere between 50 and 200 properties are illegally hooked up to DuPage County's water and sewer services.

Officials from the county's Public Works Department are ready to go after the scofflaws.

County board members discussed a proposal Tuesday calling for a fine system for illegally connected properties, which could eventually result in liens being placed on the property if owners refuse to pay.

Public Works Superintendent Nick Kottmeyer said the county loses about $10,000 annually because of the illegal connections.

"Some of them clearly did it with the intent of theft of services," Kottmeyer said.

Others, though, asked for and received connection permits, but never followed up with the county for an inspection to begin the billing process, he said.

The county starts billing after inspections because it can take months for connections to occur, county officials said.

Because the county is undertaking an extensive audit of its water and sewer systems, now is a good time to find out who is illegally tapped in and bring them into compliance, Kottmeyer said.

"While we're taking this look at the systems let's do the whole darn thing," said board member Debra Olson, who heads the public works committee. "But let's develop a policy once we get the review done."

In most cases, Kottmeyer said, illegally connected properties occurred more than a decade ago. And in some instances properties were sold to unsuspecting buyers with illegal connections.

The current proposed policy would charge illegally connected property owners for up to seven years of service unless they can prove the connection has been in place for a shorter period of time. If the county can prove the connection has been in place longer than seven years, the county could charge for the longer service. Utility services would be disconnected if property owners don't pay and a lien would be placed on the property, which would have to be paid off if the property is ever sold.

Board members suggested a payment plan should be provided because some cases may be worth several thousand dollars.

Kottmeyer said it takes some effort on the county's part to determine if a property is illegally connected, but tests can be done from the street. Officials said no one area of the county has more illegal connections than any other.

The county board's public works committee received Kottmeyer's report Tuesday and asked for revisions before it goes to the full board for a vote.