26% Water Hike Expected In Western Springs After 8 Years Without Increases

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs is poised to increase its water bills by 26 percent next year.

It would be the first hike in eight years. During that time, the United States has seen inflation of 33 percent.

Officials said they needed the money to keep up with the water system's maintenance.

"We are just houses in Western Springs," Trustee Karen Martin said at Monday's Village Board meeting. "We don't have some large water user that we can say, 'You're going to pay more for water.'"

For instance, Hinsdale officials a few years ago called for larger users such as the local hospital to pay more.

Under Western Springs' plan, a family using 4,000 gallons would pay $77 a month, up from $61. That works out to an increase of nearly $200 a year.

Trustees preferred the option of increasing the fixed fee, rather than basing the hike on the level of water use.

They said that was a more certain method to raise the money needed for system upgrades.

Trustee Scott Lewis said it was good that the village held the line on water rate increases for eight years.

Village President Heidi Rudolph was not so sure.

"In hindsight, maybe it was a little shortsighted that we held it for eight years," she said. "Going forward, we'll visit this on an annual basis."

In April 2025, nearly three-quarters of Western Springs voters approved the village going into debt to pay for infrastructure projects, including water and sewer system improvements.

Trustee Amy Avakian wondered how the village would make the case for the water rate increase in light of the referendum.

Before the referendum, she said the village argued for the property tax hike, showing fragments of old pipes and other evidence of deteriorating infrastructure.

"What is the new argument? We did (the referendum). We raised money, so, yay, and now we need to do it again," Avakian said.

Officials said the referendum helped, particularly with projects that involve both street and water system improvements. But they said they needed more flexibility to pay for other water utility work.

Trustees said they expected to vote on the water rate hike at their Sept. 28 meeting.

The increase would take effect Jan. 1.