Lindenhust concerned about town's water supply

As several Lake County communities wait to hear whether they'll be allowed to draw water from Lake Michigan, at least one member of the group is expressing concern about its water supply.

Lindenhurst draws its water from 10 shallow wells, but one is already out of operation and a few more are on the edge, Mayor Susan Lahr said Monday. The village will have to drill more shallow and deep wells, or find a permanent source such as Lake Michigan.

"We need to do something. We need to communicate the clear need for some type of action," Lahr said. "What are we going to do in 20 years when we don't have any water and everyone else does?"

The village is waiting to hear the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' decision on the Northern Lake County Lake Michigan Water Planning Group's proposal to spend $250 million to connect nine western Lake County suburbs to the Lake Michigan supply.

Although the group won't hear if its proposal is approved until late July, Lindenhurst agreed to contribute $25,000 to the group Monday, with an additional $25,000 over the next few months, to keep the possibility alive. The other member communities are: Antioch, Fox Lake, Lake Villa, Wauconda, Lake Zurich, Volo, Hawthorn Woods and Old Mill Creek.

"Does it make sense to wait and then not have the money ready?" Lahr asked.

The board agreed using Lake Michigan water could be a more costly option, but the other option would be to leave the group and pursue an independent alternative such as drilling more wells.

If Lindenhurst drills wells, the village would need at least two shallow wells or one deep well, said village Administrator Matt Formica. Each shallow well would cost $1.5 million to $2 million, and a deep well would cost $2 million to $2.5 million, Formica added.

The village board needs to decide whether it will put the project to residents in a referendum vote, or make the decision itself.

"There is no do-nothing, no-cost option," Trustee Tim Wayne said.

Lahr said not many people know the village has only shallow wells and there is uncertainty about relying on them in the future.

"Motors are at a certain depth in the wells and the water level is dropping below the motors," she said. "Do we spend millions to drop the motors lower and have it happen again?"

She added there are dangers to drilling deep wells such as water contamination, but the village may have to take the risk if permanent source cannot be found.

The board said it will not move forward on any decisions before reaching out to the public in a town hall setting or through a public hearing.