Bloomington-Normal Could Build a Pipeline to the Illinois River to Secure Water for the Next Century

Bloomington city planners are studying an ambitious option to keep the city supplied with water for decades to come. They are considering building a pipeline to the Illinois River to supplement the water Bloomington currently pumps from Lake Bloomington and Lake Evergreen, according to a May 28 report from WGLT.

The idea comes as the city looks ahead to the water demands of a growing population. The question is not just about today. It is about what Bloomington will need over the next century.

Joliet’s $1.5 Billion Blueprint

Bloomington officials could look to Joliet for a playbook. Joliet and five other Will County communities are currently building a 60-mile pipeline to the city of Chicago to purchase water from Lake Michigan. The project costs $1.5 billion and is targeted for completion by 2030.

Alison Swisher, Joliet’s director of public utilities, said the push for a new water source became urgent in 2018. That was when the Illinois State Water Survey warned that Joliet would begin using more water than its underground aquifer could supply by 2030.

"The Will County region has a lot of opportunity for growth still, so we had to consider a water source that wouldn't just be able to meet our current demands, but also for a much-expanded system," Swisher said in an interview on WGLT's Sound Ideas.

Swisher grew up in Towanda and attended Normal Community High School, giving her a direct connection to the Bloomington-Normal area.

The Options Joliet Weighed

Joliet explored many potential solutions before settling on Lake Michigan. The city considered:

• A pipeline to the Kankakee River
• A pipeline to the Illinois River
• Tapping other aquifers
• Recharging the existing aquifer
• Buying water from the city of Chicago
• Purchasing water from other municipal Lake Michigan providers
• Building its own pipeline to Lake Michigan around Chicago to the Indiana shore at Hammond

Several options were eliminated. State laws limit how much water governments can pump on low-flow days. That rule would apply to Bloomington as well if it considered the Mackinaw River as a fallback source during dry periods.

Water quality concerns also shaped the decision. State rules require municipalities to consider the best available quality of water source.

"We know as technical professionals that any water can be treated to drinking water standards, but in our area, given we have an abundance of water sources, something that was considered in our evaluation was the public perception of the water," Swisher said.

Joliet ultimately chose Lake Michigan as the highest quality source and Chicago as the most sustainable long-term partner.

Why a Water Commission Matters

The Joliet pipeline crosses four counties and runs through 14 communities. Managing that complexity required a new governance structure.

The six participating communities — Crest Hill, Shorewood, Joliet, Minooka, Channahon, and Romeoville — formed the Grand Prairie Water Commission. This structure gave them powers that individual municipalities do not have on their own.

"By having the water commission structure, we're able to have certain rights that a municipality on its own does not have. We're able to utilize rights-of-way and also utilize eminent domain outside of our jurisdictional boundaries to make the project happen," Swisher said.

Without a commission, a city like Bloomington would have to negotiate agreements with every landowner along a pipeline route. The Grand Prairie Water Commission avoided using eminent domain altogether by building relationships with local governments along the route.

Money and Compromise

There is no federal grant money waiting to fund water supply pipelines, Swisher said. Citizens would pay for the bulk of construction costs. Low-interest loan programs are available, but they are not free money.

Regional cooperation helped Joliet spread the cost and lower barriers to funding. State and federal elected officials have written grant programs specifically to support regional projects that serve larger populations.

The six commission members had different timelines and priorities. Joliet needed water fast. Some partner communities were dealing with forever chemicals in their existing supply. Others would not need a new source until 2050 but joined anyway to gain economies of scale.

Early discussions included a voting system based on population size. That would have given Joliet the largest voting bloc. Joliet gave up that advantage to get the commission formed. In exchange, Joliet won the right to manage construction and improve its chances of hitting the 2030 deadline.

"Giving up some of that control for the best interests of our residents was something that all of our communities felt was the right direction," Swisher said.

What This Means for Bloomington

If Bloomington eventually pursues an Illinois River pipeline, it would face similar questions about governance, cost, and public trust. The city would need to decide whether to act alone or seek regional partners. It would need to plan for how residents pay for the project. And it would need to address the same water quality concerns that shaped Joliet's decision.

The Flint, Michigan water crisis of 2014 serves as a cautionary tale for any community changing its water source. State rules now require municipalities to test how new water interacts with existing pipe infrastructure to prevent lead contamination.

Bloomington is still in the planning stage. But the lessons from Joliet's experience offer a clear picture of the choices ahead.