Oswego village board approves water conservation measures

The Village of Oswego Board of Trustees has approved a series of water conservation measures, part of the process in choosing a new water source.

Oswego is seeking a new water source because a deep groundwater aquifer it currently uses is at risk of depletion and being unable to meet the village’s water needs sometime between 2030 and 2050, according to information from the village.

During the Aug. 17 regular board meeting, members unanimously voted to approve the measures.

In recent meetings, village staff and outside consultants have presented information detailing the separate steps and considerations that must be taken before a new water source is selected.

“No amount of conservation efforts will change this risk of depletion due to the high area demand and the comparatively slow rate of recharge within the aquifer,” according to a memo from Public Works Director Jennifer Hughes and Assistant Public Works Director Utilities Timothy Zasada. “That does not mean that conservation measures should not be considered.”

Benefits of conservation include: Lower individual water bills, slowing of the drawdown in the aquifer, and a reduction in capital costs, “as future system improvements can be sized for a smaller demand,” Hughes and Zasada wrote.

As the village is considering several alternative water sources, certain conservation measures must be implemented as a “prerequisite” for obtaining a permit to withdraw from Lake Michigan, and possibly to withdraw from the Fox River.

Measures approved by the board include: Prohibiting the use of sprinklers on the 31st of each month, revising morning sprinkling hours at non-addressed properties to start at 4 a.m. instead of 6 a.m., requiring all consumed water to be measured by a meter, and requiring air conditioners to be closed systems in all new construction and remodeling projects.

In total, the board approved 13 conservation measures.

Existing conservation measures include: Even/odd lawn watering restrictions as well as time of day restrictions and prohibiting seed and sod in July and August. Measures also include leak detection steps, guidelines for installing swimming pools and a program supporting the use of rain barrels throughout the village.

A choice on a source of water is expected to be made by the end of the year.