Illinois American Water will replace 1.6 miles of aging water main throughout its Sterling system. Work on the $3 million project will begin this week. According to a press release from Illinois American Water, much of the new main will be larger than the current lines to support water flow and pressure for continued water quality and fire protection.
WSIL News states that the project will replace over 8,600 feet, or 1.6 miles, of water main throughout the Sterling water system. The work will occur in the following areas:
- Northland Park Apartments
- 15th Avenue between East 6th Street and East 14th Street
- 29th Street between Avenue E and Locust Street
- West 7th Street between Locust and Avenue I
Charlotte Dunne, Superintendent of Operations, stated that this work during National Infrastructure Week is an opportunity to highlight the need for investment in aging infrastructure. The company works to replace water mains annually to keep up with aging infrastructure.
According the to 2021 results from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Report Card for America's infrastructure, the ASCE gave the nation's drinking water systems a C- and wastewater systems a D+ grade.
"These grades don't represent Illinois American Water because of our continued, annual investment, but the findings do support our approach to update infrastructure and the need to move quickly on investments to enhance the resiliency on water systems for health, safety and local economies."
Superintendent of Operations for IL American Water | Charlotte Dunne
Motorists should use caution when driving while construction is occurring and should obey all traffic signs, detour routes and flaggers. Customers affected by a water main replacement project will be notified via a letter about the impact and any necessary steps that will need to be taken. The letter will include a local contact for questions.
Illinois American Water and the contractors on the projects will provide continuous updates as work occurs. These updates may be provided via door hangers as well as via Illinois American Water's customer notification system which contacts customers by phone, phone and text, or email based on the customer's preferences.
Shaw Local News reports that in June 2020, Illinois American announced it was investing nearly $6 million to replace a high service pump station at the water treatment plant and to build a larger elevated water tank next to the old one that was built in the 1990's at 29th Street, on the north side of town.
LOOKING FOR MORE WATER MAIN PROJECTS IN ILLINOIS?
An email from Illinois American spokeswoman Karen Cotten states that the new tower is now in service and the original tank will be taken down in the next several weeks. Once the old tank is down, the site will be regraded and restored.
The new tank doubles water storage capacity, from 250,000 to 500,000 gallons, providing adequate water pressure for homes, businesses and fire protection and also for the increased demand from community growth.
To help pay for this and other infrastructure work statewide, in February Illinois American filed a request with the Illinois Commerce Commission to raise its water and wastewater base rates. The request is being driven primarily by more than $1.1 billion in completed or planned investment - $948 million in water system improvements and about $204 million in wastewater system improvements - across the state from 2018 through 2023 according to a news release by the company.
This was the first step in an 11 month ICC rate review process. Any new rates would not become effective until early 2023, six years since Illinois American Water's last general rate change in 2017.
Investments include:
- Replacement, lining and installation of about 141 miles of aging water and wastewater pipelines
- Upgrading water and wastewater treatment plants
- Upgrading storage tanks and wells
- Upgrading pumping stations
- fire hydrants, meters and manholes
If the company's proposed rates are approved, the monthly water service bill for the typical residential customer using 3,500 gallons per month with a 5/8 inch meter would increase between $6 and $14 per month, depending on their service area. The typical residential wastewater bill would increase between $7 and $17 per month depending on service area.
The rate change request includes a low-income discount tariff which would provide about a 70% decrease in the volumetric charge for both water and wastewater service for residential customers that qualify for this discount. This could result in lowering a typical residential customer's monthly bill for 3,500 gallons with a 5/8 inch meter by about $23 for water service. A combined collection and treatment wastewater service bill for the same customer could show a decrease of about $8 to $15 a month. The request will undergo public scrutiny by the ICC and customers will also have an opportunity to provide public comment.
