Algonquin's New Water Sources Could Include Fox, Lake Michigan

Algonquin retrieves its water from ground sources like wells, but findings from an $84,000 study may force the village to look at other options, including the Fox River and Lake Michigan.

“The Fox River may hold some options for us, but many, many years from now,” said Andy Warmus, Algonquin’s utilities superintendent.

But Public Works Director Bob Mitchard said the likelihood of using lake water is slim. Still, the engineers’ study will prepare the village for the future, whatever it may look like.

“There’s a lot of work involved, and people must be willing to pay much higher water rates to bring water out this far,” Mitchard said. “If that’s what has to be done in the future, we want to be ready to say it can be done.”

Villagers shouldn’t worry just yet, though. The study will be presented to the board in December. Any changes wouldn’t be enacted until next summer at the earliest, Warmus said, and large changes are still years away.

Conservation is also being looked at and evaluated. Algonquin has a conservation plan, but the master study will look to optimizing water efficiency in all categories. 

“The village has been very successful in conservation efforts,” Warmus said. “We will implement any conservation efforts needed and use it as efficiently as possible to make sure we don’t run out of water in the future.”

Algonquin likely will see new wells spring up in the meantime, as one well on the east side of town and one on the west side have been proposed. Both are aimed at improving water quality and providing a surplus of water as the community grows.

And with progress comes many villagers biggest concern — rate hikes. 

“I would venture to say at some point we will see a rate increase, with the economy in mind,” Warmus said. “We are trying very hard to keep the rates under control and work as effectively and efficiently within those rates, but we can’t rule out an increase.”