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Water measures approved in Homewood

Homewood and Flossmoor moved closer to getting water through Chicago Heights instead of Harvey, as the village board in Homewood approved several measures Tuesday.

A 25-year agreement between Chicago Heights and Homewood will begin after the village’s current contract with Harvey is up at the end of 2022. As part of the agreement, the initial rate Homewood pays for water will be $4.05 per 1,000 gallons. Hammond, Indiana — from which Chicago Heights gets Lake Michigan water — will be paid $2.05 of that. The rate will be adjusted each year based on the Consumer Price Index, but any increase cannot be less than 1 percent or more than 3 percent. 

“We began our talks with Chicago Heights about two and half years ago and it’s finally come to this. It’s a good arrangement, a good contract,” Homewood Mayor Richard Hofeld said. 

A study determined needed improvements to Harvey’s water infrastructure would increase the rate Homewood would pay for water to $5.16 per 1,000 gallons, had that relationship continued.

Chicago Heights will install a fourth pump and backup generator at a station in Lansing, per the contract approved Tuesday.

“This seemed like such a far-off dream when we started talking about it. It’s something that is of great importance to our residents,” Homewood Trustee Barbara Dawkins said. “We want to make sure that we’re providing safe water.” 

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency asked Homewood to have the Hammond water and infrastructure analyzed. Hammond treats its water through a different process than Chicago, which supplies Harvey. The IEPA wants to ensure that process won’t result in higher levels of lead. 

Both Homewood and Flossmoor are required to have corrosion control tests performed. To keep costs down, the towns will have the study done together. The Homewood village board approved that agreement Tuesday, as well. 

Homewood contracted engineering firm Burns and McConnell to do the study alone. Flossmoor will now be added to the contract and will reimburse Homewood proportionally. The total cost of the testing is $366,285. 

Homewood also approved a contract for a leak detection survey of its water infrastructure with M.E. Simpson Company of Valparaiso, Indiana for $21,450. The firm was the only of three bidders to meet the requirements for the project. 

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