Quinn Signs Bill That Allows Creation of Water Agency

Bolingbrook and four neighboring communities, including Romeoville, will create the Northern Will County Joint Action Water Agency thanks to legislation that Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed into law Friday.

Those five communities will now likely look to take action against Illinois American Water and overtake the pipeline that carries Lake Michigan water from Bedford Park to the west suburbs via eminent domain.

The bill—Senate Bill 83—allows Bolingbrook, Homer Glen, Lemont, Romeoville and Woodridge to create the agency, which Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar said would meet soon after Quinn took action.

Claar says the agency would lower residents' water bill. Illinois American Water says Bolingbrook can't prove that and in the meantime, will be racking up lawyer bills while using eminent domain.

"History has shown using eminent domain to acquire a utility system is extremely expensive, risky and a divisive endeavor that will increase the costs to the public," said IAW President Karla Olson Teasley in a statement.

The creation of the agency will have little effect on Romeoville consumers, at least in the near future. Only 24 connections, all industrial, are on the Illinois American Water pipeline in the village. The remaining connections, including all residential customers, receive their water from the village.