Villa Park staff warn DuPage Water Commission price jump could raise residents' bills; trustees weigh partial pass‑through

At the July 14 Committee of the Whole, Public Works Director Mike Guerra told trustees the DuPage Water Commission increased its wholesale rate from $5.58 to $5.80 per 1,000 gallons, a 22¢ rise that staff said is the largest he has seen while at the village.

Guerra said the village had planned for modest increases under a five-year rate study completed in 2020 that set rates through 2025 and that the village implemented an 11¢ per 1,000 gallon increase effective Jan. 1, 2025. Staff had been forecasting a DWC rate of about $5.61 per 1,000 gallons; the newly billed $5.80 rate is roughly 19¢ higher than that forecast.

Guerra said Villa Park purchases roughly 550 million gallons from DWC annually, bills residents for about 500 million gallons (the difference reflects system loss, fire response and other consumption) and had budgeted about 600 million gallons in the 2025 budget planning figures. He estimated typical residential usage at about 6,000 gallons per billing cycle and noted a 19¢ wholesale increase would add about $1.14 per month for that average customer if passed through in full.

Staff presented three options for trustees: do nothing and absorb the increase (which would likely draw on capital reserves and could delay planned infrastructure projects), pass the full wholesale price through to residents (adding roughly 19–22¢ per 1,000 gallons), or compromise with a partial pass‑through — staff suggested roughly 10¢ per 1,000 gallons as a middle ground. Guerra said a full pass‑through could take effect as soon as the September billing cycle if the village adopts an ordinance in the next one or two meetings; he also said ordinances typically become effective 10 days after adoption and notices are included on the following bill.

Trustees asked follow‑up questions. Trustee Christie Alfano asked staff to research tiered rate structures (for example, a baseline allotment at a lower rate and higher marginal rates for usage above that threshold); Guerra said he would investigate and that a new full rate study is likely needed this fall. Trustee Khalid Kumar and Trustee Cordova signaled support for a partial increase (about half of the wholesale rise) and asked staff to compare Villa Park’s options with neighboring DuPage communities to see whether they will absorb increases or pass them to customers. Manager Rivas and Guerra said staff would bring more details, including a rate‑study timeline and comparative municipal practices, for future consideration.

Ending: Trustees did not adopt a water‑rate ordinance at the meeting. Staff will prepare additional analysis — including a proposed rate ordinance, results of a new rate study and comparisons with other municipalities — for consideration at future meetings.