Mt. Prospect gives green light to $1.7 million water main project

The Mount Prospect village board approved the final phase of the Prospect Meadows subdivision water main project Tuesday.

The project's third phase, which costs about $1.7 million, will replace about 5,250 feet of existing water mains and install 15 new fire hydrants, Mount Prospect Water Superintendent Matt Overeem said.

Water main problems in the area date to the 1970s, when private deep wells failed and the village took over the system, according to a memo Overeem distributed Tuesday to trustees.

"Today the rear-yard layout of this water distribution system is problematic," according to Overeem's memo. "The area has mature trees, bushes, fences, sheds, patios and decks that now cover most of the water mains and service lines."

Modern water pipes today are 8 inches wide. However, most of the water pipes in the Prospect Meadows subdivision are thin and only 4 inches in diameter. This limits the water flow and makes them prone to failure, according to Overeem's memo.

When water mains break, they have to be dug out by hand and cause lengthy water shutdowns.

"To correct this problem, staff began in 2005 and continued in 2007 with the abandonment of the rear-yard water mains and the installation of replacement water main in the street right-of-way," the memo stated.

Overall, almost 9,000 feet of new water mains will be installed when the third phase of the project is complete, Overeem said.

The money for the project comes from the village's water and sewer fund, Village Manager Michael Janonis said.