North Side aldermen turn up the heat on water main contractor

Exasperated North Side aldermen will hold a City Council hearing next week to turn up the heat on a city contractor they accuse of inconveniencing and endangering their residents with its slow and slipshod work.

NPL Construction is replacing North Side water mains from Addison to the city limits, under terms of a $92 million contract awarded by the city last year.

It's part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's plan to replace century-old water mains by doubling water and sewer rates over a four-year period, followed by annual cost-of-living increases.

Housing Committee Chairman Joe Moore (49th) said he's all for the massive reconstruction project. But it's the way the North Side work has been carried out that has infuriated his constituents.

Moore said he was so exasperated about the conditions he put the matter on the agenda for Tuesday's Housing Committee hearing.

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