Glen Ellyn residents could see water rate hikes

The DuPage Water Commission's financial miscues will cause ripple effects throughout the county and Glen Ellyn residents could feel them as early as their June water bill.

Village officials will vote on a budget Monday that includes a call to boost water rates 10 percent.

The increase follows a water commission announcement in February that it will raise the rate it charges municipalities by 22 percent, in part to offset the panel's own bungled financial situation.

As a result of that and other factors, Glen Ellyn residents will pay more than their current rate of $9.94 per 1,000 gallons. Finance Director Jon Batek said the average household uses 8,000 gallons a month, meaning the average water bill will increase from about $79.50 per month to $87.45 per month.

"Nobody wants to see the rates go up but there are costs here that are out of our hands," he said.

Among those costs is an increase imposed by the City of Chicago to the commission that has been handed down to local governments. Also, the village's contribution to the Glenbard Wastewater Authority will increase by 17 percent.

Add to that a sharp decrease in consumption and the village is faced with a situation that forces it to pull $790,000 out of reserves to balance the water fund, even after the increase.

Overall, the village's $42.4 million budget is about 3.6 percent less than last year and required the use of about $1.9 million in cash reserves to balance.

Batek said a reason for the water fund's imbalance the past few years has been a decision to replace infrastructure based on roadwork schedules. As crews dig up roads, they also look at the water pipes and mains, most of which are more than 100 years old, Batek said.

Batek said he understands residents' concerns over increases they have seen in recent years and that the water commission's mistakes have just piled on.

"We certainly empathize with the end users," he said. "But then to add cash balance and liquidity snafus on top of that is almost adding insult to injury. It's been a hard road in that fund."

Although the budget could be approved as early as Monday, Batek said he is doubtful an ordinance approving the water rate increase will be approved before June.