The Village of Oswego, Village of Montgomery, and United City of Yorkville have been working together on a variety of fronts over the years, including the exploration of alternative water supply sources. All three communities currently rely on groundwater sources for their drinking water supply. Yet the region is withdrawing groundwater faster than it can be replenished, leading to concerns about the long-term availability of water in this area.
Working proactively, Oswego, Montgomery, and Yorkville have invested in engineering studies to review their potential options, including shared drinking facilities and alternative water sources. As the communities consider potential options, they applied for assistance from CMAP’s Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program to analyze the potential governance structures for a shared drinking water supply system to help inform their decision-making process.
CMAP enlisted the expertise of the Metropolitan Planning Council to outline the various water governance options available in Illinois for shared drinking water service between municipalities. The report, Shared Drinking Water Service: A Summary Report on Available Governance Structures, reviews five different governance structures and outlines the basic structure, legal and governing requirements, voting rights, fiscal power, and provides examples of regional applications. While created for Oswego, Montgomery, and Yorkville, this report provides a helpful overview for other municipalities considering the benefits of regionalized drinking water service for their communities.