Water levels are noticeably low in the lakes on the east side of Izaak Walton Preserve due to an inoperable well pump. Homewood trustees voted Oct. 11 to pay for repairs to the pump. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
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Homewood agrees to fix ailing pump at Izaak Walton

As Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve visitors may have noticed, the Sandhill Lakes are shrinking, putting the fish population at risk, but a solution to the problem is on the way.

The east side of the preserve requires the addition of well water to remain filled all year round, according to the preserve’s September newsletter. 

Water levels are noticeably low in the lakes on the east side of Izaak Walton Preserve due to an inoperable well pump. Homewood trustees voted Oct. 11 to pay for repairs to the pump. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
Water levels are noticeably low in the lakes on the east side of Izaak Walton Preserve due to an inoperable well pump. Homewood trustees voted Oct. 11 to pay for repairs to the pump. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)

The effectiveness of the pump that delivers water to the lakes began eroding in early summer and finally became inoperable, causing the water levels to drop.

At the Oct. 11 village board meeting, Homewood trustees voted to approve the expenditure to make repairs the pump. The property is owned by the village and leased to the preserve. Under the lease agreement, the village is responsible for maintaining the pump.

Because the project was not included in the current fiscal year budget, the preserve agreed to pay for repairs now, and the village will provide reimbursement as soon as the next fiscal year begins on May 1, 2023, according to Village Manager Napoleon Haney.

The cost of repairs is expected to be about $68,331.

Work has not yet been scheduled, according to a post on the preserve’s Facebook page, but the goal is to complete repairs before the lakes freeze over this winter.

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