$1.45B Pipeline Project to Deliver Chicago Water to South Suburban Communities

Development has begun on a $1.45-billion, 60-mile water pipeline that can allow Chicago to offer consuming water to 6 south suburban communities that at present depend on wells not anticipated to have the ability to meet calls for by 2030.

The challenge will ship consuming water from Lake Michigan to Joliet, Unwell., the state’s third largest metropolis, together with the close by municipalities of Channahon, Crest Hill, Minooka, Romeoville and Shorewood. These areas “have deep, historic underground aquifers which might be quickly depleting,” says David Kohn, deputy commissioner of Regional Partnerships for Chicago’s Dept. of Water Administration. “They wanted to discover a totally different water supply.”

Funding shall be offered by the communities receiving the water, who will oversee the work below the newly shaped Grand Prairie Water Commission (GPWC), with Joliet taking the lead. The challenge consists of the development of greater than 62 miles of huge diameter
transmission major, constructed of metal and concrete and measuring between 16 in. to 66 in. in dia; three pump stations; two water storage tanks; and 13 water supply buildings. 

The pipeline will run about 30 miles from Chicago to Joliet and embrace a further 30 miles of pipeline to distribute water to the assorted communities; It is anticipated to serve 250,000 folks when full in 2030. It’s going to ship 55 million gallons of water a day, with capability to ship as much as 105 million gallons a day sooner or later. The longest pipeline at present carrying Lake Michigan water to the suburbs is 16 miles lengthy. 

Michels Trenchless, Brownsville, Wis., is the contractor for step one within the challenge, now underway, to create a brand new connection to Chicago’s water system on the Southwest Pumping Station, positioned close to Durkin Park within the 4000 block of South Western Avenue in Chicago. GPWC can also be establishing an adjoining 4-million-gallon reservoir. “This reservoir
will help the operation of the excessive service
pump station that can drive water by means of
the regional transmission system to the
supply factors for the member communities.
The reservoir shall be principally beneath grade and
lined with landscaping to mix into an
current park,” the group explains on its web site.

Stantec is offering engineering, land acquisition, allowing, funding help, and administration companies. Crawford, Murphy & Tilly is a serious sub-consultant to Stantec, additionally offering engineering companies. 

There are about 25 extra bid packages posted on GPWC’s web site, together with work to be executed at pumping service stations, tunnel extensions, water transmission strains, storage services, video surveillance, river crossings and safety. 

“This can be a very bold challenge with an enormous quantity of labor going into it,” Kohn says, including that the challenge is “historic … it’s the largest growth of the Chicago water system in three many years.”

Offering water to the suburban communities is predicted to generate $30 million in annual income for Chicago.