Village Considers Options to Encourage Water Conservation

Recent rains have helped bring lawns back to life, but it’s a false sense of security. This year’s drought is expected to last until October, according to weather experts. And the hot temperatures will be making a comeback too.

A combination of factors have led the village of Huntley to issue warnings about water usage and the restrictions in place _ warnings that can not go unheeded.

Now, Public Works Director Jim Schwartz is looking at long-term options to encourage water conservation, options that could include higher rates for second meters and a tiered water bill system that rewards people who use less water.

Water usage figures have been astronomical, some days hitting 5.5 to 5.8 million gallons of water a day, Schwartz said. Huntley, whose population is about 24,000, is pumping more water than neighboring Crystal Lake, whose population is about 40,000, he said.

Huntley public works crews and police have started issuing tickets to anyone violating the Code Yellow restrictions limiting outdoor water use from 6 to 9 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. on odd/even days depending on the address. The next step is Code Red, which restricts any outdoor watering.

The village has also banned sod installation and suspended permits for irrigation systems.

Schwartz is asking residents just turn off the systems and not use sprinklers so a Code Red is not needed.

“We are just asking people to turn off their sprinklers,” he said. However, the village is prepared to go to a Code Red. “If it needs to be done, we’ll just have to do it.”

The millions of gallons of water literally going down the drain cannot continue now or in the future.  Schwartz is trying to figure out long term option to help conservation efforts and avoid a situation like this summer including:

• Adopting new water restrictions

Schwartz said he’s consider cutting the number of hours outdoor water use is permitted to only two hours a day.

McHenry County wants to establish a countywide color code system so the village could adopt new water use restrictions.

“The county is really pushing conservation,” Schwartz said.

• Increasing rates for second meters

There are about 3,200 irrigation systems _ that the village has permitted _ with the biggest percentage in Sun City Huntley, Schwartz said. These systems have a second water meter attached to them.

“I’m going to push raising the rate on the second meter,” Schwartz said. “I think if you are going to use it, you have to pay.”

• A tiered water billing system

Schwartz is also exploring have a tiered billing system where households and business would be allowed a certain amount per day, say 1,800 gallons. If usage goes over that amount, they could pay double or triple the water rate, he said. The tiered system may only be seasonal, he said.

He has a lot of research to do but hopes to have some of the changes in place by next summer.

Schwartz has a different perspective of water conservation because of his job. And he is blunt about the future if people don’t start conserving water in Huntley and the region.

“Just keep doing what you are doing and you’ll be drinking your effluent (wastewater),” he said.