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Lockport staff seeks $327,511 study on Lake Michigan water connections; council asks for more cost detail
Summary
Public Works asked council to place a resolution on the next agenda authorizing Engineering Enterprises Inc. to study alternatives for connecting Lockport to Lake Michigan water, with a task order not to exceed $327,511; council members pressed staff for clearer comparisons of treatment savings versus continued well maintenance and storage requirements.
Lockport Public Works asked the City Council to place a resolution on the next regular council consent agenda to authorize a comprehensive alternative water-source study by Engineering Enterprises, Inc. (EEI) for a task order not to exceed $327,511.
Brian (Public Works) described the study scope: evaluate pros, cons and costs of continuing with the city's deep/shallow wells versus connecting to Lake Michigan water through one of four potential providers (Grand Prairie, Illinois American, Bedford Park or Oak Lawn); identify connection routes, needed infrastructure, long-term cost and rate impacts, and deliver a full report and presentation to council. "The work is scheduled to begin in March and should conclude sometime by January 1 year from now," he said.
Council members pressed staff for additional, comparative cost detail before committing. One member said previous state and EPA rules had required communities to maintain wells even after switching to Lake Michigan water; Brian confirmed that wells generally must be maintained for emergency use and noted communities typically must increase storage capacity (he cited current flow of about 2.5 million gallons per day and an increased storage need of about 5 MGD to provide redundancy). "So you do have to maintain the wells... All communities that are currently on Lake Michigan water now will be required to do that," he said.
Council asked staff to return the project as an action item with a clearer estimate of savings from eliminating treatment plant operations versus the ongoing costs of maintaining wells in a standby state. One council member requested a rough cost comparison within two weeks to help weigh whether the $327,511 study is appropriate.
Staff requested placement of resolution 26-006 (or 26-008 as referenced in the memo) on the next council consent agenda for consideration; the Council did not vote on the study task order at the Committee of the Whole meeting. Further analysis and a formal council action are pending.
