DeKalb City Council hears water system master plan calling for new well, southern transmission loop and generator upgrades

DeKalb City Manager Nicholas and consultants from Baxter & Woodman outlined a water system master plan to the DeKalb City Council on May 12, recommending a new shallow well, a transmission main to extend service and staged emergency power and distribution upgrades to support projected growth.

The plan matters because DeKalb’s recent commercial and industrial growth — and projected future users — will increase daily demand. "In about 10 years... by the most conservative calculation our use would be offset beginning to offset basically what we can pump in a day," City Manager Nicholas said, adding the city should act now rather than wait for higher costs later.

Baxter & Woodman and city staff told the council the study modeled demand by land-use types (residential, light industrial, high-use industrial, logistics, etc.) and found the city can meet near-term needs with projects staged over several years. The highest-priority recommendations in the presentation were: (1) drill a new shallow well the consultants estimate would add "about a thousand more gallons a day" (approximate figure stated in the presentation); (2) design and build a transmission main south from the existing loop along U.S. 23 to Keslinger and Hampton Road to serve ongoing south-side development; (3) continue replacement of small-diameter, aging mains (4- and 6-inch mains) in older neighborhoods to improve fire flow; and (4) add or upgrade backup emergency power to wells and pump stations in a multi-year schedule.

City Manager Nicholas and Water Superintendent Justin Netzer explained the city operates alternating pumping schedules and four elevated storage tanks to protect the aquifer and reduce peak costs. The report notes about 81% of the system's calls were medical/EMS-related responses for the related utility operations discussion, and that the city currently stores roughly 6 million gallons across its towers. "We are alternating pumping so that we can make sure that we're being kind to our aquifer," Nicholas said.

Staff described the south-side transmission main as roughly 60% through preliminary design; the project would create another loop to serve more than 1,000 acres and improve the utility footprint for large employers that have chosen DeKalb. City staff said they will pursue a low-interest loan through the Illinois EPA (IEPA) as one potential financing path and will return to council with recommended funding options once final costs are firm. The consultants also recommended continued asset management and replacement of aging mains in historic neighborhoods to increase fire-flow capacity and system resilience.

Council members emphasized funding coordination with new development, and Alderman Burbank said the master plan data will be critical to building a funding model that aligns developer contributions, loans and city capital. On mutual aid, staff clarified the plan also mentions a future valve interconnect with neighboring Sycamore for emergency fire protection, not a permanent supply transfer.

The council did not take formal action on the master plan at the May 12 meeting; staff said they will return with final design work, a financing proposal and a prioritized implementation timeline for council approval.