Agenda Item:
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Staff Report and Update on the 2026 Water Supply Analysis
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Staff Contact: Monica Sarna, Public Works Director, Alex Urbanczyk, Water Plant Superintendent
Purpose and Actions Requested: To provide the Village Board with an update to the draft report for the 2026 Water Supply Analysis.
Budget Impact: Not Applicable
Strategic Priority Addressed: Community Resilience, Reliable Infrastructure, Economic Vitality
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
In 2024, staff hosted a Water Workshop with the Village Board and the public to re-engage discussions regarding the future of Glencoe's water supply. The workshop presented three long-term options: continue investing in the existing water treatment plant, construct a replacement water plant at a new location or secure an alternative water source through a partnership with another community. While all three options remain viable, the Village Board directed staff to further explore regional water partnership opportunities. Previous studies evaluated purchasing water from neighboring communities to the north and south; however, a potential western water source had not yet been fully analyzed.
In September 2025, the Village Board approved a contract with Burns & McDonnell to complete a comprehensive Water Supply Analysis. The study evaluates the feasibility of a western water supply connection, reviews and updates the Village's 10-year Community Investment Program (CIP) for the water treatment plant and assesses the resiliency of the Village's emergency water interconnections. Staff has worked closely with Burns & McDonnell throughout the project and a draft report has now been submitted for review. Staff will present the preliminary findings to the Village Board at the July 16 Committee of the Whole meeting.
The analysis evaluated three potential water supply scenarios, storage requirements associated with a new water source, the capacity and resiliency of the Village's emergency interconnections and the current 10-year community investment schedule and cost estimates for the water treatment plant. Opinions of probable construction costs were also developed for each alternative to assist the Village in comparing the long-term financial impacts of each option. These costs were prepared in today’s dollars and have not been adjusted with escalations based on project timelines.
The preliminary analysis evaluated several alternatives:
• A western connection to the Village’s water distribution system utilizing a new 20-inch and 16-inch transmission main, supported by a new 2-million-gallon storage reservoir and a pumping station at the point of sale. This scenario has an estimated construction cost of approximately $28 million
• A second alternative consisting of a direct 16-inch transmission main connection to the Village’s 2 MGD reservoir adjacent to the water plant was estimated at approximately $34 million.
• A third modeling scenario, which evaluated a redundant water supply connection utilizing the existing ComEd easement to the Village water tower, was determined to be infeasible. However, the study recommended a redundant transmission main along Dundee Road as a potential resiliency improvement with an estimated cost of $8.4 million.
In addition to evaluating alternative water supplies, the study reviewed the Village's planned Community Investment Program at the existing water treatment plant. The analysis confirmed approximately $8.3 million in scheduled improvements over the next ten years while also identifying several additional infrastructure needs, including replacement of Filters 1 through 4, a comprehensive chemical feed system assessment and prioritization of critical valve replacements. The report also identified the Village's raw water intake as a significant long-term capital investment, with an estimated replacement cost of approximately $55 million.
The study further evaluated the Village's emergency water interconnections by analyzing average daily water demand and identifying recommendations for additional field testing, hydraulic modeling, valve and control infrastructure improvements and updates to intergovernmental agreements governing emergency water supply activation. These improvements are estimated at approximately $1.9 million.
The hydraulic modeling completed for this study utilized steady-state simulations to evaluate system performance under specific operating conditions. Should the Village pursue an alternative water source, additional engineering and stakeholder coordination would be required, including confirmation of transmission main routing, coordination with Union Pacific Railroad, IDOT and applicable environmental and waterway agencies. Future steps would also include completing extended-period hydraulic modeling, hydrant flow testing, a system flushing program and water age analysis before advancing any alternative water supply project.
This study provides the Village with a high level technical and financial assessment of both maintaining the existing water treatment plant and pursuing a regional water partnership. The report will serve as a planning tool to guide future capital investment decisions and continued evaluation of long-term water supply alternatives.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff will present this information at the July 16, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting as information only at this point. We plan to continue to finalize this draft report and use this analysis to guide future capital investment planning and decisions.