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City Council took a step forward in fortifying Elgin’s water system earlier this month, entering an agreement for the design of a direct water well tie-in.
The unanimously approved resolution with WGA Engineers is part of the city’s broader initiative to enhance the reliability of its water system, ensuring that Elgin remains self-sufficient during emergencies, according to Mayor Theresa McShan.
The council had previously addressed similar concerns by upgrading its Pistol Hill water stor- age tank and backup generators in November.
The direct water well tie-in will allow for versatility with the city’s water treatment plant, according to the council. While portions of the plant will be temporarily offline for upgrades, the tie-in allows the city to maintain a steady water supply.
Water well no. 15, located at the treatment plant site, will allow Elgin to pump water directly from the source, meet disinfection requirements and store it in tanks, bypassing the plant if needed. The minimal inf rast ructure required for the operation means that even during a significant outage, such as a natural disaster or construction- related shutdown, citizens would experience no impact, McShan added The project, which will connect the well to the water treatment plant, will require the addition of a disinfection facility and piping. With this new setup, the city will be able to pump water 24/7 for multiple days, ensuring reliability during unexpected events, according to the council.
