By: Carol McGowan
Forest View Holds Town Hall To Discuss McCook Water Deal, Plans $13M Lead Line Replacement
Forest View officials outlined an ambitious two-part infrastructure overhaul at a town hall Tuesday night: replacing the village’s 260 lead service lines over the next three to four years and handing over portions of its aging water system to the Village of McCook.
The moves address a critical vulnerability. Forest View’s main water line—nearly 100 years old and running under I-55, railroad tracks, and a canal—poses a $28–30 million liability if it ruptures, Mayor David Liska said. A similar break in 2008 or 2009 cost about $1 million to repair.
“That would bankrupt the village,” Liska said.
The McCook Deal
Under the proposed agreement, McCook would take over Forest View’s transmission lines running under the canal and railroad tracks. In return, Forest View would lose the $30 million liability and gain a new pumping station at the dead end of Oak Park Avenue, where the public works garage currently sits.
McCook would bring its existing water line from 45th and Oak Park to feed the new pumping station. Forest View would also receive a second point of service—a backup connection that currently doesn’t exist.
“We would still have the old feed, and we’d have our new feed coming off Forty-fifth and Oak Park Avenue to the new pumping station,” said Tanner Miller, Superintendent of Public Works.
McCook bills about $15 million in water annually and serves five or six other communities. Forest View bills about $500,000 a year. The size difference matters: McCook can afford the capital costs and liabilities that Forest View cannot.
The deal includes a $2 million contribution from McCook toward a new storage tank and pumping station for Forest View.
The Cost to Residents
Forest View would pay McCook an additional fee per 1,000 gallons of water, locked in for the life of the system. The exact amount is still being negotiated—officials mentioned $1.20 to $1.30 per 1,000 gallons.
An average resident uses 7,000 to 9,000 gallons per month. At $1.30 per 1,000 gallons, that translates to roughly $10 more per month on water bills, officials said.
However, water bills are rising regardless. Chicago raises rates annually, and the city is considering a “cost of service” model starting in 2030 that could significantly increase rates for small communities like Forest View. By tying into McCook’s larger system, Forest View may get a better rate from Chicago.
“You’re joining someone that’s taking about $15 million in water, and you’re $500,000, so 30 times as much water,” said John Spatz, a consultant hired to review the contract. “You’ll be tying on to a bigger town that’s going to get a better rate, and then you’re going to have a fixed cost that doesn’t change going forward.”
Lead Service Line Replacement
Starting next year, Forest View must begin to replace all lead service lines—a federal EPA mandate. The village has 260 lead lines and must be completely lead-free by 2042.
The village will fund the full replacement from the water main to each house—a $13 million project. Homeowners can hire plumbers to replace lead pipes inside their homes after the meter, but that’s optional and at their own cost.
Each house will receive a new 1-inch copper service line, up from the current 5/8 or 3/4-inch lines. Residents should expect a slight increase in water pressure.
What to Expect
The work will be done one block at a time using directional boring—no open trenches running the length of yards. Workers will bore from the water main to the foundation, punch through, and connect inside.
For homes with finished basements or hidden water meters, residents should unhide them now. Workers will need access to the meter area. Minor landscaping damage—grass and dirt—will be restored. Extensive damage to retaining walls or plantings may be the homeowner’s responsibility.
The village does not yet have a construction contract. Officials said they’re at least a year away from starting work and will hold another town hall closer to construction to provide block-by-block schedules.
The Water Main
Forest View’s water main is also nearly 100 years old. The $13 million new main project will create a better loop through the system, improving water quality and flow. It will also allow the village to isolate water main breaks to single blocks instead of shutting down half the town.
The village currently spends $250,000–$300,000 annually on water main repairs. Officials hope that the new main, combined with reduced leakage, will offset some costs of the McCook deal.
Questions Remain
The contract with McCook is still being negotiated. Village officials said they will not finalize any deal unless the per-gallon rate is locked in permanently.
Village board member Mike Grossi said the board is “for it, but then it has questions” and emphasized moving forward “cautiously” to ensure residents understand the risks and benefits.
The village has hired John Spatz, a former Chicago water department official with 26 years of experience, to review the contract independently and ensure “all the I’s are dotted, T’s are crossed.”