A major milestone was reached on June 2, 2025, as leaders from the Grand Prairie Water Commission (GPWC), the City of Chicago, and regional and federal partners gathered to celebrate the start of construction on a transformative new water system that will bring a long-term, sustainable water supply to more than 250,000 people in northeast Illinois.

The event marked the official groundbreaking of the Commission’s Alternative Water Source Program, a regional initiative to construct more than 60 miles of new water transmission infrastructure, along with pumping, storage, and delivery facilities, that will connect Lake Michigan water to six fast-growing communities southwest of Chicago.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson joined local officials to recognize the significance of this moment. Rep. Underwood played a key role in securing $3.5 million in federal funding to support early design efforts, while Mayor Johnson welcomed the project’s start near Chicago’s Southwest Pumping Station, applauding the regional collaboration behind the initiative.

The project is the result of years of planning to address long-term water quantity and quality concerns. After extensive evaluation, Lake Michigan water, purchased from the City of Chicago, was selected as the most sustainable and resilient solution to meet future demand and support reliable service for decades to come.

Construction is expected to continue through 2030. Once complete, the system will serve the six member communities of the GPWC: Channahon, Crest Hill, Joliet, Minooka, Romeoville, and Shorewood.

The groundbreaking marks more than the beginning of construction; it represents a powerful model of intergovernmental cooperation, strategic planning, and infrastructure investment that prioritizes public health, economic development, and environmental stewardship.

To learn more about the GPWC and its Alternative Water Source Program, visit GPWC-IL.org.