Ela Township residents question revised Lake Michigan pipeline route

Proposed refinements in the route to bring Lake Michigan water to Lake Zurich have raised concerns among residents on Eagle Drive in Ela Township.

Rather then proceeding south on Diamond Lake Road as initially envisioned, the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency now suggests connecting the pipeline at Indian Creek Road via Eagle Drive to the west.

Because Eagle Drive is a township road, going that route will require approval from the township board to use its right-of-way for construction.

A special meeting to give residents an opportunity to hear a detailed presentation and get answers to questions is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 4, at the Ela Township town hall, 1155 E. Route 22, Lake Zurich.

Work on this section of the seven-mile pipeline between Vernon Hills and Lake Zurich is anticipated to start in 2027 and take three to seven months to complete. It involves burying a 24-inch diameter pipeline six to eight feet below street level.

Above-ground equipment including “blow-off stations” that look identical to hydrants and can be accessed for emergency firefighting also will be installed, according to an FAQ.

The route shift is preferred in part because Diamond Lake Road has limited room in the right-of-way, carries more traffic and would require property acquisition and tree removal in back and front yards, according to CLCJAWA.

Eagle Drive would be less disruptive overall, supporters say, because it minimizes potential impacts to private property, will be less expensive and can be done more quickly.

A letter circulated to residents in the unincorporated area contends the neighborhood will be bearing the burden for the benefit of other communities, and there could be a big impact if the high-volume pipeline fails.

There are about two dozen homes on Eagle Drive. However, the project would effectively disrupt access for about 100 homes in the Indian Trails and Indian Meadows subdivisions during construction, the letter says.

Residents contend the Diamond Lake Road route would disrupt just nine homes and, because of complaints and apparent lower cost, Eagle Drive will become the only residential street affected.

Considerations when selecting a pipeline route, according to the water agency, include: using existing right-of-way whenever possible; minimizing construction costs and long-term maintenance; reducing traffic impacts; avoiding conflicts with buried utilities; environmental conditions; and listening to residents and local officials.

“Pipeline projects are engineering-driven but how they affect daily life matters just as much,” CLCJAWA states in a frequently asked questions letter to residents Feb. 20.

December 2028 is the target date for Lake Michigan water to begin flowing from taps in Lake Zurich.