$9.5M Contract For Lake Michigan Receiving Stations Awaits Village Board Approval

OSWEGO, IL — Oswego trustees will vote Tuesday on whether or not to approve an almost $9.5 million construction contract for Lake Michigan water receiving stations.

The work is part of Oswego's larger project to switch to Lake Michigan water from its existing source, a deep groundwater aquifer that has been at severe risk of depletion, Patch reported.

The Village Board is being asked to approve a resolution authorizing the execution of a construction contract with Elgin-based IHC Construction Co. totaling $9,466,000. The money would come from the village's capital water and sewer fund, which is fully funded through a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan.

RELATED: Oswego OKs Agreements For Switchover To Lake Michigan Water

Oswego staff determined that the village's existing water source would no longer be able to meet the maximum daily water demand sometime between 2030 and 2050, Patch reported in 2020. The village secured a permit from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in August 2023 to use Lake Michigan water.

As part of Oswego's water source transition, three receiving stations must be built, with one providing one million gallons of ground storage and two others managing pressure through flow control and pressure-reducing facilities.

The ground storage tank and receiving stations were designed as one project and bid separately, according to village documents.

RELATED: Oswego's Drinking Water Supply Could Run Out By 2050: Village

Five bids were received, ranging from $9.466 million to $10.352 million. Baxter and Woodman, a consulting firm contracted as the village's engineer for the receiving stations, reviewed the bids and recommended awarding the project to IHC Construction.

Trustees have taken four previous actions related to the Lake Michigan receiving station, with the most recent on March 18, authorizing $1.015 million to Baxter and Woodman for inspection services.