DuPage Water Commission

DuPage Water Commission
Name	DuPage Water Commission
Formation	1982
Headquarters	Wheaton, Illinois
Region served	DuPage County, Illinois
Leader title	Executive Director

DuPage Water Commission is a regional wholesale potable water wholesaler and water infrastructure agency serving municipalities within DuPage County, Illinois. Founded to secure a reliable supply from the City of Chicago and the Chicago River system, it plans, constructs and operates transmission mains, pumping stations and storage facilities that connect to the Chicago Water System and distribute treated water to suburban collectors and municipal utilities. The Commission interacts with multiple regional entities including the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and numerous municipal water departments to coordinate supply, quality, and emergency response.

History

The Commission was created in the early 1980s amid suburban expansion and recurring disputes over allocation from the City of Chicago’s waterworks. Early agreements grew out of negotiations with the City Council of Chicago, the Mayor of Chicago administration and suburban boards for access to the Chicago Water System and the Chicago River diversion infrastructure. Major milestones include the construction of the initial transmission main in the 1980s, contractual amendments with the City of Chicago Department of Water Management, and later capital programs to expand storage and pumping capacity after population growth in the Village of Addison, City of Naperville, City of Wheaton and other service areas. The Commission’s timeline intersects with regional projects such as the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan planning and interagency emergency planning with entities like the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Governance and Organization

The Commission is governed by a board composed of appointed representatives from member municipalities and townships, including officials from the DuPage County Board, the City of Wheaton, Village of Glen Ellyn, Village of Lisle, and City of West Chicago. Its executive leadership includes an Executive Director and professional staff drawn from civil and environmental engineering backgrounds, often with prior experience at firms such as Black & Veatch, AECOM, or agencies like the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Committees mirror subcommittees found in municipal authorities and coordinate with the DuPage County Health Department and regional planning bodies like the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission.

Water Supply and Infrastructure

The Commission’s primary supply is purchased treated water sourced from the City of Chicago’s water treatment plants on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan intake system, delivered through high-capacity transmission mains and interconnects. Infrastructure assets include transmission pipelines, booster pumping stations, elevated storage tanks, and pressure-regulating facilities sited near municipalities including Addison Township, Milton Township, and the City of Elmhurst. Capital expansions have been influenced by regional projects including the Chicago Deep Tunnel discussions and coordination with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago for source protection. Engineering projects often reference standards from professional organizations such as the American Water Works Association and regulatory frameworks under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Operations and Services

Operational responsibilities cover wholesale water purchasing agreements with the City of Chicago, scheduling, metering, asset maintenance, emergency response coordination and technical support for municipal partners such as the Village of Downers Grove, City of Lombard, and the Village of Schaumburg. The Commission operates SCADA systems and telemetry consistent with industry practice from providers like Siemens and Schneider Electric and engages contractors for construction management, including firms like Kiewit and AE Works for major works. It provides services during drought contingencies modeled in coordination with the Illinois State Water Survey and regional conservation programs promoted by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.

Finance and Budget

Funding sources include wholesale service charges from member entities, state revolving funds from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, bond issuances under Illinois statutes, and intergovernmental grants. Financial management involves issuing revenue bonds through municipal finance markets, engaging underwriters and bond counsel familiar with Illinois State Treasurer procedures and federal tax rules administered by the Internal Revenue Service. Budgeting follows practices aligned with the Government Finance Officers Association standards, with capital improvement programs planned in multi-year horizons and audited by certified public accounting firms such as Ernst & Young or regional auditors.

Environmental and Water Quality Programs

The Commission participates in water quality monitoring programs in partnership with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on drinking water contaminants, and laboratory services accredited under the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference. It supports lead service line inventories and compliance with rules influenced by federal actions like amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act and state-level regulations enacted by the Illinois General Assembly. Conservation and source protection efforts are coordinated with agencies including the DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup and watershed plans developed with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

Intergovernmental Relations and Legal Issues

Intergovernmental agreements define the Commission’s wholesale contracts with the City of Chicago, service area annexation policies with municipal governments, and emergency mutual aid compacts with utilities across Cook County, Kane County, and Will County. Legal matters have involved contract law, municipal finance litigation, and regulatory compliance proceedings before the Illinois Pollution Control Board and state courts, often requiring counsel experienced with public utility law and the Illinois Attorney General’s opinions. The Commission engages in regional planning forums with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and participates in advocacy with trade groups like the Illinois Association of Water Agencies.

Category:Public utilities in Illinois