History
1874
The citizens of the the Village of Evanston, with a population of 3500, started to build a communal water system. The system consisted of a 16 inch intake pipe extending 1200 feet into the lake, a small Holly steam engine, capable of pumping 2 million gallons per day, a hand fired boiler, and a few miles of cast iron water main. The original cost of the steam engine and boiler was $24,000. During the first year of operation the plant pumped 95 million gallons of water.
1888
A second Holly engine was installed having a capacity of 5 mgd. The village officials had originally intended to remove the first engine when the new one was installed, but fortunately changed their minds because, within a few years, the rapidly growing population was using full capacity from both engines.
1892 the Village of south Evanston was annexed and became a water user.
1897
The pumping station was enlarged, and a third Holly engine having a capacity of 12 mgd was installed at a cost of $35,000.
1911
The feeding of hypochlorite of lime was initiated as a disinfectant.
1914
A 12 mgd filter plant was built on the present site. It was the first water treatment plant to be constructed along the shores of Lake Michigan and resulted in a rapid decline in the typhoid rate in the city causing an influx of families into Evanston because of its superior water supply. It had six rapid sand filters rated at 2 mgd and, as part of the filter plant construction, two steam turbine driven low lift (raw water) pumps were installed.
1921
Chlorine was introduced to control typhoid fever, cholera, and dysentery.
1924
The filter capacity was doubled by adding six more 2 mgd rapid sand filters bringing the total capacity to 24 mgd.
1926
The first electrically driven high lift pump was installed for stand-by duty.
1932
A 1.5 million gallon elevated tank was erected in southwest Evanston to improve the distribution system.
1934
Wilmette built its own water plant. A 5 million gallon underground reservoir was added to the Evanston system to provide storage for emergencies.
1935
A one million gallon elevated tank was added to the distribution system in northwest Evanston.
1944
Skokie requested a water supply and a 24 inch feeder main was extended to the Skokie village limits on Church Street and Evanston began supplying water by direct pressure.
1947
Evanston was the first city in Illinois to fluoridate its water supply.
1948
The rapid growth in Evanston and Skokie made expansion of the entire plant imperative and construction of the new facilities was started and financed by a $2,890,000 Water Revenue Bond issue. The expansion included a new all-electric high lift pumping station, new mixing and settling basins, a chemical building and laboratory, dry chemical feeders, and the addition of six 4 mgd filters, bringing the total filter capacity to 48 mgd.
1950
The end of an era - the old steam plant was shut-down, giving way to electrically driven pumps with two gasoline driven stand-by engines.
1956
The population growth continued and it was necessary to construct a new 48-inch intake, two suction wells, a new low lift pumping station, and additional feeder mains, including a new 36" feeder main to supply Skokie. A 100 KW 480 volt generator was added to the plant for emergency service in the event of a power failure.
1961 and 1962
Two 25 mgd high lift pumps were added.
1963-65
Two additional mixing and settling basins, a flash mix basin, and liquid chemical feed facilities were constructed. Another 24 million gallon per day filter addition brought the total filter capacity to a rating of 72 mgd. Two washwater pumps with all automatic filter washes and a new control room for the filter plant were also added. Another 36" feeder main to Skokie was added to supply the increasing demand.
1967
Anthracite capping was added to the twelve 4 mgd filters thereby greatly increasing the filter runs.
1968
Traveling intake screens were installed in the north and south suction wells to remove algae and prevent trash from entering the low lift pumps. A new 25 mgd low lift dual drive gasoline-electric pump was installed.
1971
A new 20 mgd high lift pump powered by a 700 hp natural gas engine was installed. The necessity to add additional non-electric power units, as the water system expanded, became apparent to meet emergency conditions.
1973
Evanston, in compliance with anti-pollution standards, eliminated all water plant waste discharge to Lake Michigan. A one million gallon detention tank with three pumps was constructed which received the wash water and then mixed it with the incoming raw water so that the waste water would be recycled through the system. A sludge pump and basin sludge drain which discharged to a large sanitary sewer was also installed.
1975
A new 54" intake and suction well were constructed bringing the total intake capacity to 150 mgd.
1980
Evanston signed a 40-year contract to provide water to the Northwest Water Commission, consisting of the municipalities of Arlington Heights, Palatine, Buffalo Grove, and Wheeling, beginning in early 1984.
1980-1981
Embarked on a 13.2 million dollar Capital Improvement Program to update the Water Department. Phase I included: 25,427' of new water main at various locations, ranging in size from 6" to 24"; construction of a new material building and pumping station at the southwest water storage tank; installation of three new boilers, two 50 hp and one 20 hp; installation of 5 KV switchgear and motor starting equipment for low lift (raw water) and high lift (finished water) pumps; updating slow mix equipment in settling basins #1 and #2; installation of two new 30 mgd low lift pumps; installation of a new 500 KW emergency generator.
1982-1983
Phase II of the Capital Improvement Program included: installation of new instrumentation; construction of a new chemical building and chemical feed system; upgrading of six 1914 and six 1924 filters to 3 mgd rate; replacing the 1.5 mg elevated storage tank in southwest Evanston with a 5 mg standpipe.
1985
Phase III of the Capital Improvement Program included: replacement of the 1 mg elevated storage tank in northwest Evanston with a 7.5 mg standpipe; installation of a new 22 mgd high lift pump.
1985-1986
Evanston began supplying water to the Northwest Water Commission. Two 48" diameter suction pipes from the 5 mg reservoir to the east end of the high lift suction tunnels were installed. Dehumidifier equipment was installed in the west filter pipe gallery. Electro-pneumatic filter controls were replaced with electronic microprocessor units.
1988
Installed new sludge pumps, samplers, and an 8" basin sludge force main to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District interceptor sewer. Installed two additional double unit electronic chlorine cylinder scales.
1990-91
A new 15 mgd high lift pump was installed to replace a 6 mgd and an 8 mgd pump. Two 48" diameter isolation valves were added to the west high lift suction lines. Modified west filter effluent piping and increased 16" diameter inlet piping and valves to 24" diameter to increase flow through the filters. Updated slow mix equipment in basins #3 and #4 including drive units. The Commonwealth Edison electrical sub-station was upgraded and new 4KV switchgear was installed in the pumping station to meet the increased electrical demand.
1992
Chlorine feed system was installed into the intakes for Zebra Mussel control.
1992
Began feeding a blended polyphosphate to prevent the leaching of lead from home plumbing.
1994
Constructed a new chlorine storage and handling building.
1997-1999
Gasoline engines are replaced with natural gas to eliminate need for underground storage tank and improve efficiency.
Utilities Contact Info
555 Lincoln St. Evanston, IL 60201
Monday - Friday: 7:30am - 4pm
Director: Dave Stoneback
P: 311 or 847.448.4311
F: 847.475.8851
Send us an email
Emergency Contact (Water & Sewer):
Weekday: 311 or 847.448.4311
Night & Weekends: 847.475.6880