FAQ

What is the Village of Romeoville’s current water source?The Village has six deep wells (1,500 feet deep) and seven shallow wells (between 150 to 300 feet deep) that pump water from underground aquifers. This is the source of our drinking water.

Why is the study being conducted?The outcome of the survey by the Illinois State Water Survey indicated that Romeoville’s sandstone withdrawals are not sustainable come 2040-2070. Future water level declines pose a risk to Romeoville and surrounding communities’ water supply in the future. Relying on deep wells for the majority of its water supply, the Village of Romeoville needs to develop an alternative water source. The Illinois Office of Water Resources predicts wells in our area will be at risk of inoperability by 2050. While the deep well water levels are declining, areas immediately adjacent to the Village are facing a more immediate crisis. Their wells could be inoperable sooner. Therefore, even though the Village is not in immediate danger, to avoid a higher risk in the future, Romeoville is pressing forward to determine the best alternative for the future water supply.

If this Village is not at an immediate risk, why is this decision being made now? If the Village waits, options that are currently on the table will not be available in the future, and choices will be limited.  This includes Lake Michigan water. There is a limited amount of water that Illinois can use, so even if it is within the water mains of our neighboring communities, it may not be able to be supplied to the Village. In addition, the timeframe to obtain property and complete construction could be several years. 

Who is conducting the alternative water source study?The Village of Romeoville staff and its consulting engineers are in the process of conducting the alternative water source study to evaluate alternative sources for its water supply.  

What alternative water sources were examined?Initially, 11 alternative water sources were evaluated. This included Lake Michigan – DuPage Water Commission, Lake Michigan – Regional Commission, Lake Michigan Direct, the Kankakee River, and the Illinois River. 

I live in an unincorporated area, but pay for Romeoville water. Will we be supplied the same water as Romeoville residents?Yes.

Will I still have access to water during construction?Yes, water will still be available during construction. When we get closer to the start of construction, we will provide more information on what to expect during the transition.

Will the pipes in my house need to change?No, the change of water source will not require you to change anything inside your home. 

How can I stay updated on the program? 
You can find water updates on romeoville.org and Village social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) as they become available. In addition, public meetings will be held. 

When will construction begin? The schedule will be determined based on which water plan is chosen, but the earliest construction would begin is 2027.

Why will we not receive Lake Michigan water until 2028-2040?Once a source is selected, the Village will need to get a water allocation permit from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. This process typically takes a year. The Village then has to negotiate a contract with the provider of the water source, design the delivery system, and construct it. This is a lengthy process.

What are the benefits of Lake Michigan water versus Romeoville’s existing well water supply?The Village currently softens a portion of our water supply and provides a high quality meeting all regulatory requirements. The new treated Lake Michigan water supply will be an even better quality, with lower hardness and less potential for scaling of water fixtures. For water customers that have home water softeners, these will no longer be necessary.

Who will own the water lines?
The Village of Romeoville will continue to own the water mains that are currently utilized to provide water. The newly formed Regional Water Commission will own and maintain the commission water main lines. Romeoville would partially own these lines as a member of the commission.  

What say will we have over fees charged by whomever owns the water lines? The Village of Romeoville will continue to establish the water fees charged to its water customers. The fee charged to customers is currently based on cost of operating and maintaining the current water distribution system. Future rates will potentially be impacted by the cost of receiving water from the Regional Water Commission, but are not anticipated to be higher than the future costs of maintaining the current internal water system. As a founding member of the Regional Water Commission, the Village will have an equal vote in deciding what expenses are necessary with the operation and maintenance of the water commission.  

Can the Village give us an estimate of how this initiative will impact our water bills? 
No immediate impact on water bills is anticipated from this initiative. Based on the current estimated total cost of the project, the 2030 conceptional water distribution portion of the bill is anticipated to be between $6-$10 a month higher for the average resident using 6,000 gallons of water.