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Joliet-led Grand Prairie Water Commission plans 65-mile pipeline to secure Lake Michigan supply
Summary
City of Joliet staff told council June 2 that the regional Grand Prairie Water Commission will buy Lake Michigan water from Chicago and construct about 65 miles of pipeline to serve six communities; project remains on track for system operation by May 2030 with a $1.446 billion baseline budget.
Allison Swisher, director of public utilities for the City of Joliet, told the council on June 2, 2025, that the Grand Prairie Water Commission has chosen Lake Michigan water purchased from the City of Chicago as an alternative water source and is building roughly 65 miles of pipeline to deliver that water to six member communities including Joliet, Channahon, Crest Hill, Minooka, Romeoville and Shorewood.
“People are surprised to find out that in this area, we are running out of water,” Swisher said, summarizing findings from regional studies. She said the Illinois State Water Survey projects the existing deep aquifer will be unable to meet maximum day demands “by as soon as 2030.” Swisher also cited recent problems with shallow wells in nearby communities and concerns about PFAS as additional reasons to secure a new source.
Swisher described the project as a regional, multi‑phased infrastructure program made up of more than 26…
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