Future water options for Joliet, Illinois, cost $300 million to $1 billion

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — Joliet officials are mulling future water-supply options ranging in cost from $300 million to over $1 billion.

The (Joliet) Herald News reports that they include drawing water from Lake Michigan or the Kankakee or Illinois rivers.

Officials estimate city growth will outstrip the current groundwater supply by 2030.

Drawing from the Kankakee River is estimated to cost $307 million. But officials fear its flow rate is insufficient to handle city growth.

Mayor Bob O’Dekirk says residents might be wary of the Illinois River option because it would take water near the Dresden nuclear power plant.

The city could build a 42-mile pipeline to Lake Michigan in Hammond, Indiana for $910 million to $1.1 billion.

The environmental commission will recommend a plan Dec. 10 with a council decision expected Jan. 7.

Featured Image: Dark skies over Lake Michigan, Photo by unknown via pxhere.com cc 0.0