Lake Forest's Odd/Even Watering Plan is Working

For wondering if the city's move to an odd/even watering plan is working to restore water levels to more favorable numbers, the answer is yes.

Lake Forest Public Works Director Michael Thomas thanked residents, property owners and businesses for doing their part at Monday night's City Council meeting.

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"Residents have done a very good job working with the odd/even plan," Thomas said.

It was less than two weeks ago that the city had to institute a due to serious low water levels at both the main water plant and the booster station.

The city will stick with the odd/even plan for the near future, especially with temperatures expected to climb to nearly 100 degrees Tuesday and very little rain forecasted for the next 10-day period, according to weather.com.

Lake Forest falls under the Illinois State Department of Natural Resources odd/even rule for all communities that receive water from Lake Michigan. Watering is allowed from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. on an odd/even schedule based on a property's address. The rule is in place to reduce the amount of water taken from the lake each year. Lake Forest and other communities that receive water from Lake Michigan cannot exceed their lake water allocation.

Thomas noted the city's water consumption from May through July 11 was 463.19 million gallons, which is the second highest since 2005 when the city used 420.732 gallons for May and June only.

Going forward, Thomas said the city will evaluate the possibility of expanding the booster station located across Waukegan Road from Lake Forest High School's west campus. Currently, the booster station holds 4 million gallons of which 3 million can be used each day.

"With the land available, there is potential to double the booster station in size," Thomas said.

In addition, installing a well at Deerpath Golf Course will be explored this fall and residents of Del Mar Woods subdivision will be moving off the city's water system to Highland Park's. Those two moves could help boost the city's water supply, Thomas said.

The City will take down the 48 signs sitting at heavy traffic intersections and scattered throughout neighborhoods later this week or early next week. The community sign boards will remain as a public reminder.

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