Lake Michigan Water Presentation

Meeting Wauconda’s Future Water Supply Needs

Water – we drink, cook, shower, wash clothes, and flush our toilets with it.

The quan)ty of water is limited, and the quality of it is vulnerable.

By 2015, Wauconda must take ‘significant steps’ toward using its valuable water alloca)on or lose it.

The cost of bringing in LMW is less than $1.50 a day – the cost of a boIle of water.

This meeJng is about you having a choice now about water in the future.

Introduction •  Timeline & AcJviJes •  Water Supply Basics •  Key Concerns •  Water Supply AlternaJves •  Affordability •  November 6th Ballot •  Q&As

•  Timeline & AcJviJes •  Water Supply Basics •  Key Concerns •  Water Supply AlternaJves •  Affordability •  November 6th Ballot •  Q&As

In 2006, the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) confirmed that Wauconda “had liIle room, if any, for increased pumpage in the future.”

Source: Water Supply Planning White Paper

In 2007, the Village began assessing the sustainability of Wauconda’s water supply. The Goals: •  To determine if current

supplies will meet future needs, both quan)ty and quality.

•  To research water supply alternaJves.

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The Village’s populaJon growth is expected to increase by 28%, from 13,603 in 2010 to 17,439 in 2040.

Source: CMAP 2040 Forecasts, January 2011

Wauconda’s exisJng well structure will not meet future growth and demand.

Wauconda

But the “real issue of concern is groundwater contamina)on.”

Source: 2011 Water Supply Planning White Paper

•  LMW is a clean, sustainable water source •  Naturally soc water •  Reliable and safe for future generaJons

WHY SWITCH TO LAKE MICHIGAN WATER?

Learning that the quan)ty and quality of drinking water may be at risk, the Village pursued a Lake Michigan water allocaJon permit.

Why?

In February 2011, acer a lengthy process, the Village was awarded a LMW alloca)on.

Next Steps: By 2015, Wauconda must take ‘significant steps’ toward using its valuable water allocaJon or lose it.

Wauconda

Lake CommuniJes seeking new allocaJons. AnJoch – Wauconda – Fox Lake – Lake Zurich – Lake Villa

Lindenhurst -‐ Long Grove – Lake County


Where does our water come from? Wauconda obtains its public water supply from groundwater.

Four deep wells 970 to 1280 c. deep

Four shallow wells 104 to 325 c. deep

Ground water is supplied by “aquifers.”

An aquifer is an underground formaJon of permeable rock, loose gravel, sand, or silt that provides water when tapped by a well.

All of Northwest Lake County obtains its water from shared aquifers.

One of our largest shared aquifers Cambrian-‐Ordovician.

“The aquifer system is under stress from extreme ground-‐water withdrawals…especially in the Chicago, Illinois area.”

Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Wauconda

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When water is pumped from wells, the water table of the aquifer is drawn down.

Example: In July 2012, Well #10 could not recharge water levels as fast as the draw down was occurring.


Wauconda

•  Groundwater contamina)on of

exisJng shallow wells. •  Treatment and costs for radium and

barium levels in exisJng deep wells. •  Mining of regionally shared aquifers –

restricJng water availability in the future.

The 3 Key Concerns are:

Key Concern #1: Groundwater contamina)on of shallow wells. •  Some wells in unincorporated neighborhoods

have already experienced contamina)on (88 private wells).

•  Although the contaminaJon is not directly linked to the superfund site currently on the NaJonal PrioriJes List...

•  Experts cannot state that Wauconda’s shallow wells are free from any future potenJal impact.

Key Concern #2: Radium and barium levels in deep wells.

•  Lake County’s deep aquifers are currently being treated to meet the USEPA’s regulatory thresholds for radium and barium levels.

•  The exisJng EPA treatment requirements for these

naturally occurring contaminants are anJcipated to increase.

•  Increased standards will lead to

significant increases to treatment and disposal costs of these radioacJve wastes.

Wauconda

Sustainability: Wauconda shares its aquifers with many immediate neighbors in northern Illinois and…

•  Wisconsin •  Indiana •  Iowa •  Missouri •  Minnesota

Key Concern #3: Mining of regionally shared aquifers

Deep bedrock community water supply wells in northern Illinois.

Why worry about Wauconda’s water supply now?

•  Costs for Lake Michigan water will never be lower.

•  Our valuable Lake Michigan water

allocaJon would be re-‐distributed to waiJng communiJes.

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“Even under normal climaJc condiJons, Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC) projects water shortages for 11 townships in the Chicago metropolitan area by 2020.” Source: A Plan for ScienDfic Assessment of Water Supplies in Illinois (ISWS)

Lost Value

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The economic impact of water shortages would be evident in the community.

Socio-‐Economic Drought

Non-‐ Agriculture Sector

Tourism & recreaJon

Public services Landscaping

services

Industries & businesses

Property values

Agriculture Sector

Crops & pasture losses

Livestock losses


Wauconda

What are Wauconda’s alternaJves?

BUILD MORE DEEP WELLS

BUILD MORE SHALLOW WELLS

SWITCH TO LAKE MICHIGAN WATER

WHY NOT BUILD MORE WELLS?

Water quan)ty of groundwater wells is shared and limited. Water quality of wells can be affected by: •  Landfill Leachate •  Agricultural Runoff •  Industrial & Commercial AcJviJes •  Abandoned Wells •  Chloride in Road Salt •  Naturally Occurring Contaminants (examples: radium and barium)

WHY SWITCH TO LAKE MICHIGAN WATER?

•  Reliable, high quality water supply.

•  Less suscepJble to mining due to regulatory oversight.

•  No risk of local groundwater contaminaJon.

•  Naturally soc water eliminates the need for in-‐home water soceners.

•  ExisJng municipal wells can be maintained as an emergency supply.

•  Lake Michigan water would posiJvely support future property values.

•  Marketability: Business acJvity and growth would be enhanced.

Benefits:


Lake Michigan water

will never be as affordable as it is today.

COST OF LAKE MICHIGAN WATER?

•  External infrastructure: $41 million general obligaJon bonds (property tax)

•  Wauconda’s internal distribuJon system: $9 million alternate revenue bonds (water rates)

Approximately $50 Million Project

WHY WILL THE MAJORITY OF THE COSTS BE COVERED BY PROPERTY TAXES?

•  Alternate revenue bonds are required to be secured by an addi)onal 25% more revenue than what is needed to pay the bond.

•  By iniJaJng the majority of funding through GO bonds (property taxes), repayment of the bonds will be more secure and less expensive.

•  The resident’s contribuJon to this funding is tax deduc)ble. The Village would have liked to finance LMW through GO bonds, but its debt limit is capped at $41 million.

Property taxes are the only funding mechanism that can support GO bonds, which have the lowest interest rates available…at their lowest rate since the 1970s.

WHAT IS THE MONTHLY COST OF BRINGING IN LAKE MICHIGAN WATER ?

Average Monthly Cost per Family

The monthly cost for a family of four living in a $200,000 home will gradually increase to $43.

ANer the bonds are paid this cost will be eliminated.

HOW DID YOU DETERMINE THE MONTHLY AVERAGE COSTS?

Average Property Tax

$ 200,000 home = + $390 annually

OR

$32.50 per month

= $43 Month

$10.60 per month (Minimum users $3.52)

Family Water Bill

72,000 gallons = + $127 annually

OR

WHAT WILL IT COST TO STAY ON WELL WATER TO MEET FUTURE DEMAND?

•  AddiJonal deep wells will be necessary to meet projected water demands.

•  Advanced treatment and storage will be necessary.

•  DistribuJon system will need improvements.

Approximately $20 Million Project

WHAT IS THE MONTHLY COST TO STAY ON WELLS?

Average Monthly Cost per Family

If the Village conJnues to receive its water supply through wells, the average monthly cost for a family of four will be approximately $24 (water rates).

HOW DID YOU DETERMINE THE MONTHLY AVERAGE COSTS?

= $23.50 Month

(Minimum users $3.52)

Family Water Bill

72,000 gallons = + $282 annually

OR

LAKE MICHIGAN WATER VS. AVERAGE MONTHLY UTILITIES?

Average Monthly UJlity Costs On $200,000 Home •  Electricity -‐ $120 •  Cable TV -‐ $105 •  Cell Phone -‐ $98 •  Water/sewer -‐ $78

(+ $10.60 LMW or + $23.50 for Wells) •  Natural Gas – $75 •  Internet -‐ $35 •  Water Socener Salt -‐ $20

WHAT IS THE COST TO UNINCORPORATED WATER CUSTOMERS?

Approx. 400 homes in unincorporated areas have hooked up to the Village’s public water system to avoid contaminaJon in nearby shallow wells.

Currently, these homeowners pay 25% more for Village water.


HOW CAN WE SECURE LAKE MICHIGAN WATER?

2012 NOVEMBER REFERENDUM QUESTION

A quesJon on the November 6th elecJon ballot will seek approval of up to $41,000,000 for the purpose of bringing Lake Michigan Water to Wauconda.

Wauconda

If the referendum passes:

•  Infrastructure will be built to bring Lake Michigan water to Wauconda.

•  The Village will be able to use its allocaJon.

If the referendum fails:

•  Wauconda will lose its allocaJon.

•  CommuniJes and collar counJes will pursue remaining allocaJons.

•  Wauconda will conJnue to depend on groundwater into the future.

Now, it’s )me for the community to decide

•  The Village has secured a hard to obtain porJon of the remaining Lake Michigan water allocaJons.

•  On November 6th, the Village’s elected officials are seeking your input into this very important decision.

•  The choice to secure clean, sustainable Lake Michigan water is up to you!

•  This, in its truest form, is government by the people.

QuesJons?

Documents

Lake Michigan Water Presentation