Kewanee council OKs engineering agreement for Source Water Improvement Project after questions on well viability

The Kewanee City Council voted 4-0 June 23 to authorize the city manager to execute an agreement with engineering firm CMT for work on the Source Water Improvement Project, a water service line scale analysis and a copper pitting study.

The vote followed a presentation by Scott DeSplinter of CMT outlining the scope of work needed to design improvements that the city says are required to address Illinois EPA concerns and to keep water services under city control. The council previously approved future rate increases intended to fund these types of infrastructure improvements.

Council members pressed consultants on the likelihood that newly drilled wells would provide the yield and water quality needed to remediate chloride problems. DeSplinter identified Baker Park and Blackhawk East among the sites evaluated for chloride levels, yield and water quality, but emphasized that well drilling carries no guarantee of producing adequate water. He said that if a drilled well fails to supply sufficient capacity or quality, the city would have to return to the Illinois EPA to pursue alternate remedies.

Councilmember Cernovich asked about the condition of existing wells and whether the city should prioritize drilling new wells over other measures. DeSplinter explained a test well is functionally the same as a production well except for final equipment installation, and that the test well can be completed into a production well if results are favorable. Cernovich also queried the cumulative engineering costs across project phases and the timing of design, bidding and construction; DeSplinter said economies are realized when designing subsequent wells but that state funding timelines — specifically the forgivable Revolving Loan Fund referenced by staff — affect the schedule.

The contract approved June 23 covers the engineering design work; separate procurements and approvals will be needed for drilling, bidding, and construction. The council’s action authorizes design-level work rather than committing to drilling or construction; if tests or bids show drilling is infeasible or funding is not available, the city will need to evaluate alternate options and may return to the Illinois EPA for regulatory relief.

What’s next: staff will proceed with the engineering work under the CMT agreement and continue to pursue funding options; design milestones and any scheduled well testing will be reported to council as they occur.