Illegal tapping of water lines concerns Channahon Village Board
By Jeanne Millsap For The Herald-News September 21, 2012 8:34AM
Updated: October 25, 2012 6:07AM
CHANNAHON — Village trustees last week considered how to address a problem that one staff member said would likely begin coming before the board more often.
As trustees were considering whether to approve a local landowner’s request to combine two lots on South Indian Creek Trail — one for a residence and one for a shed — Trustee Judie Nash brought up the fact that there would be two village water inlets to the properties.
One metered pipe would connect to the house, but the other would go to the parcel of land on which no house or any other structure needing water would be built.
For this and future considerations, she asked, how does the village protect against water theft from the unused water supply. Illegal tapping could also cause backflow and endanger the quality of water in the main.
There should be a regulation in place, Nash said, to prevent access to the lines from the properties on which there is no residence.
“I think we need to be proactive on this,” she said.
Some trustees agreed with her on the issue, but there was discussion on the best way to achieve the goal.
Some thought just a written warning to landowners regarding illegal tapping would be sufficient, while others thought capping the lines would be better. There was more discussion on who should pay for cutting off the supply to the parcel not being used for homes — the village or the landowner.
In the end, the request for the specific lot combination was approved, with Nash and Trustee Scott McMillin opposing, with no conditions regarding water shutoff by either the landowner or the village. Trustees, however, asked staff to request the planning and zoning commission to look at creating a new regulation regarding the issue for future considerations.
The village board last week also approved entering into an agreement with the Morris Fire Protection and Ambulance District for service at the Interstate 80/Brisbin Road interchange once development occurs there. The agreement allows the district to collect impact fees for the area.
