Lake Zurich trustees had previously informally agreed on two water-related expenses, but at the Sept. 19 Village Board meeting, they gave official approval to make payment.

Both expenditures were approved as part of the consent agenda and there was neither debate nor discussion on either matter.

First, the board approved an agreement with Layne Christensen Company for regular maintenance on Wall No. 12, not to exceed $154,000. The well had already been prepared for scheduled maintenance with funds already budgeted, and earlier in the month the board renewed a five-year agreement with Layne Christensen.

According to the board agenda, maintenance will include pulling the pump assembly and column pipe to the surface, cleaning 1,130 feet of 10-inch column pipe, replacing deteriorated column pipe if necessary, servicing the submersible motor and repairing the pump assembly.

The board also approved to have Layne Christensen shut down well No. 11, for an amount not to exceed $128,225.

This was also a planned expense, though budgeted for $125,000. The village is shutting down that well because it is outdated and was used only for backup since 2008, and hasn’t been used at all since then.

According to the board, between 2007 and 2021, the village’s daily water production average has declined by about 26% and the village relies even less on the backup well.

The board meanwhile continues its investigation into cheaper and more productive water resources, most notably from Lake Michigan.

The board’s agenda notes that a recent study by Engineering Enterprises concludes that the capacity of the municipal water system without well No. 11 is adequate under worst-case scenarios and the village’s capacity is currently sufficient to meet the 2050 projected average demand of 1.8 million gallons per day.

None of the board members objected to the measures.

Also at the meeting, the board awarded a Lake Zurich fifth grader – who’s full name was not publicly released – a bike and a safety award. The honor was due to his bike safety efforts as part of a village-wide competition to promote bike safety among his peers and positive interactions with the police department.

Jesse Wright is a freelancer.