Water rates to jump in Elk Grove

Elk Grove Village is passing an increase in the cost of Lake Michigan on to homeowners starting Jan. 1.

Over four years, the cost of water in Elk Grove Village will increase by 55.6 percent.

That includes a 44 percent increase over three years, imposed by the city of Chicago, in what the city charges suburbs to buy water for distribution.

Chicago officials say the increase will pay for replacing pipes and other infrastructure in the city.

Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson lashed out at the city Tuesday night for notifying its suburban customers of the increase just before the Thanksgiving holiday -- not giving much notice for a Jan. 1 rate increase.

He also questioned why suburban customers should pay for Chicago projects, accusing the city of soaking the suburbs.

"The water pipes they're going to fix are not ours," Johnson said.

Customers in Elk Grove Village will also be paying to cover the cost of village sewer and water projects. And the village tacked on a slight additional increase to account for inflation in operating costs, Village Manager Raymond Rummel said.

"Many of our pipes are nearing 50 years old and will need some attention," Rummel said. "The village of Elk Grove is being proactive.… We prefer to address these infrastructure issues up front, before a large failure occurs."

Starting Jan. 1, customers will pay $5.25 per 1,000 gallons, up from $4.66.

In 2009, the rate will increase to $5.90 per 1,000 gallons. Residents will pay $6.60 in 2010, and $7.25 in 2011.

Elk Grove Village gets its Lake Michigan water as part of a consortium of suburbs. Schaumburg, Mount Prospect, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park, Rolling Meadows and Streamwood residents also can expect to pay more due to the Chicago price increase.