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Grand Prairie Water Commission
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Given the regional water supply challenges, the Cities of Crest Hill and Joliet and the Villages of Channahon, Minooka, Shorewood and Romeoville have established a regional water commission pursuant to the requirements of the Regional Water Commissions Act, codified in 65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-1 et seq., in order to provide adequate supplies of water on an economical and cost-effective basis for their respective communities, including to provide a joint waterworks system and common source of water supply of Lake Michigan water for use.

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In June 2024, the Village Boards and City Councils of the six communities each passed an ordinance to establish the Commission, entered into an intergovernmental agreement with all members, approved a water supply agreement with the Commission, and authorized its representatives to approve

by-laws governing the Commission. Each municipality appointed a Commissioner and an alternate to serve on the Board of Commissioners as well as a delegate and alternate to serve on a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).

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The Grand Prairie Water Commission’s commitment to the member communities is to:

  • Design and construct a new water system to deliver Lake Michigan water treated by the City of Chicago to meet the demands of the participating communities now and for future decades.

  • Own and maintain all infrastructure (transmission mains and pump stations) between Chicago and  the delivery point for each participating community.

  • Deliver a high-quality and reliable supply of treated Lake Michigan water.

  • Be an independent legal entity that is self-governed by a Board of Commissioners with equal representation made up of one Commissioner from each Member community. Commissioners will be appointed from among the Mayor/President and members of the City Council/Board of Trustees from each Member community.

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Working better together! 


Together the Cities of Crest Hill and Joliet and the Villages of Channahon, Minooka, Romeoville, and Shorewood have established this Commission and are working to achieve its mission to provide a sustainable, reliable, and high-quality water supply for the member communities by 2030 and beyond in order to support public health, safety, economic interests, and quality of life.

Benefits of Lake Michigan Water
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Treated Lake Michigan water purchased from the City of Chicago is a plentiful, reliable, and high-quality water source that can meet the needs of the Grand Prairie Water Commission for over 100 years.

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  • Lake Michigan is a reliable, sustainable, high-quality water source that can meet the region’s current and future demands.

  • Chicago is an established water provider that reliably supplies treated Lake Michigan water to over 5 million customers each day.

  • Member communities will not have the responsibility of water treatment, reducing their risk and liability.

  • The new treated Lake Michigan Water supply will taste great with lower hardness and less potential for scaling of water fixtures. Water customers will no longer need home water softeners.

  • The Grand Prairie Water Commission will only pay for the cost to operate and maintain facilities used to provide water to it, based on a formula-based fair and equitable purchased water cost determined pursuant to an established American Water Works Association cost of service methodology.

  • The Commission will have the opportunity to provide input on the water service provided by the City of Chicago to the Grand Prairie Water Commission as well as rate setting via an Advisory Council established by Chicago consisting of representatives of its wholesale customers.

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