The 410 residents of the village of Hopewell, who are faced with paying for a new, $5.1 million water system to save their water supply, may be hoping their new well doesn’t run their pockets dry of cash.
WCBU reported in April that the village will be required to upgrade its water system to come into compliance with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency [IEPA] pollution standards. A public meeting was held April 23, when residents were told the cost of the project would increase the average Hopewell family's water usage rates from an average of $60-to-$70 per month to upwards of $130.
However, Hopewell Board of Trustees acting chair John Mayerhofer told WCBU on May 1 he learned the typical resident’s water bill could actually rise to as much as $150 — or more — per month.
“The USDA [United States Department of Agriculture] contacted us and told us that when they re-submitted our last set of numbers, they neglected to adjust the current interest rate on that paperwork,” Mayerhofer said. “Now, the USDA says that our average water bill will be — and this is a quote from them — north of $150 [monthly] per household.”
The cost of the village's water system overhaul was originally estimated at around $1.7 million, but material cost increases, inflation and higher interest rates have combined to push the price tag for the work to more than $5 million, Mayerhofer told WCBU. Despite what the high cost of the repairs means relative to water bills, the village’s residents were mostly supportive of the board’s efforts to responsibly and cost-effectively overhaul their water infrastructure system, he added.
“I would say that they are appreciative of our efforts. However, I also know that nobody’s really happy to have to take such a punch in the face on their water bill. We have a lot of people in our village who are on a fixed income and I think it’s going to really put a big hurt on them,” said Mayerhofer.
A special Hopewell Board of Trustees meeting was called on May 2 to discuss the recent monthly family water rate estimate and its impact on the community. That meeting was postponed due to scheduling issues, but Mayerhofer said the board would likely agree to send out an immediate letter to village residents informing of the higher monthly water bill estimate.
“I was really taken aback by it. It’s almost to the point of making me want to go a different route, but I don’t think we really have options. The longer we wait, the higher the rates are going to go for interest, and inflation’s not going away. Also, if we don’t get this accomplished the IEPA could reinstitute fines and penalties against the village,” he said.
