Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Highland Park details multi‑phase water‑main and lead‑service‑line replacements, adds meters and sewer rehab grant
Summary
Mayor Glenda McDonald said Highland Park is installing three flow meters at transmission connection points, advancing two multi‑mile water‑main replacement projects (replacing roughly 1,053 and 1,228 lead service lines respectively), installing temporary sewer meters, and has received a ~$3 million Clean Water SRF award for sanitary-sewer rehabilitation.
At the State of the City address, Mayor Glenda McDonald gave technical and funding details on Highland Park's multi‑phase water and sewer work, calling the efforts central to improving water quality and lowering resident bills.
McDonald said the city partnered to install three Watermaster meters at the connection points between the regional transmission system and Highland Park's distribution system "to quantify flow entering Highland Park," and that all locations are now active and fully operational. "So we are getting the numbers. And trust me, they don't add up," she said, urging continued work with regional partners to address billing and rate issues.
She described Project 2 as replacing about 7.2 miles of water main, including the full replacement of approximately 1,053 lead service lines, and Project 3 as replacing about 10.23 miles of water main, including approximately 1,228 lead service lines. McDonald framed the multi‑phase work as replacing lines that are a century old: "every line up under this city will be brand new." She said phase 2 of design and construction is anticipated to begin in summer, with ongoing construction work in the Southeast Quadrant wrapping up before that move.
On sewer work, McDonald announced the city received a Clean Water State Revolving Fund award of about $3,000,000 to rehabilitate roughly 5,200 linear feet of sanitary sewer, including CCTV inspections and cleaning of designated segments, with construction temporarily scheduled for the fall.
The mayor also reported that temporary sewer meters are being installed with regional partners and vendors to help the city better understand billing drivers related to sewer charges. She credited state-level allies, including Senator Stephanie Chang, for working on water-affordability efforts.
McDonald emphasized the public-health rationale for replacing lead service lines, noting repeated testing has shown the city's readings "below level" to date but that full replacement is intended to give residents safe, drinkable water without needing to buy bottled water.
