Village Officials Urge Governor to Sign Water Agency Legislation

In a show of solidarity, the five communities looking to create their own water company in order to takeover an Illinois American Water pipeline are all urging Gov. Pat Quinn to sign .

Bolingbrook did its part Tuesday night as the village board unanimously voted to adopt a resolution that supports Senate Bill 83, which will allow Bolingbrook, Home Glen, Lemont, Romeoville and Woodridge to take on Illinois American Water and likely use eminent domain to try and overtake an IAW pipeline that carries Lake Michigan water from Bedford Park to the west suburbs.

State lawmakers passed the measure May 30. Quinn has 60 days from that date to sign the bill into law.

Last year Illinois American Water received approval for a $41 million rate increase from the Illinois Commerce Commission and permission to raise rates by up to 5 percent annually without ICC approval, a Chicago Tribune report said.

Buying the pipeline would afford Bolingbrook residents a cheaper water bill, Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar said.

And if the new agency can’t purchase the pipeline, they’ll likely look to acquire it through eminent domain.

“This [bill] allows us to create a water agency, and if the agency chooses to do so, we will seek to purchase the Illinois American Water pipeline,” Claar said. “The alternative to that, if we choose to do so, if to seek it through eminent domain. But that decision must be made after the agency is formed.”

Tim Leahy, Illinois American Water's director of government affairs said the bill won’t lower residents’ bill because less than 10 percent of the average customer’s bill would be affected by a takeover.

“Many local governments subsidize the cost of providing water so their rates do not reflect the true cost of providing those services,” Leahy said.