Wauconda needs Lake Michigan water

Residents of Wauconda are being asked on the current general election ballot to approve up to $41 million in general obligation bonds for improvements necessary to bring Lake Michigan water to our community. I’m writing to urge you to vote yes.

Many people are rightfully blanching at a property tax increase for something we may not need for many years to come. However, there are two certainties at play: first, we will in fact need access to Lake Michigan water in the future to ensure our community’s well-being, and; second, this is the only chance we’ll have to get Lake Michigan Water.

We have an allocation that expires if we don’t act on it by 2015. There will not be another chance at this resource because the compact between the Great Lakes States and Canada is becoming more and more restrictive on water that can be drawn out by communities.

Our wells, both shallow and deep, will not provide sufficient water for our future. Just to keep steady with what we’re currently pumping, we’ll have to increase the number of deep wells and the level of treatment being applied. We’ll also have to pay significantly more to dispose of the radium and barium we currently remove from our well water.

All of this will someday lead to water rates that will exceed the amount we’ll pay for Lake Michigan water, which is clean and naturally soft. Without Lake Michigan water, our property values will decline and our Village will gradually wither as businesses and residents move to the surrounding communities that had the vision to obtain this resource. We mustn’t let that happen. Vote YES for Lake Michigan Water for Wauconda.

Timothy Howe

Wauconda