WaterLink is a major regional infrastructure investment designed to secure a sustainable, long‑term drinking water supply for the growing communities of Montgomery, Oswego and Yorkville. After nearly a decade of study and evaluation of future water needs, these communities determined their current water source, the Ironton‑Galesville deep sandstone aquifer, will be unable to meet projected demand as early as 2050. In 2021, following extensive technical, financial and environmental analysis, the municipalities formally partnered to pursue a reliable new water source and identified Lake Michigan water delivered through the DuPage Water Commission as the most cost‑effective and resilient solution.

The WaterLink project will construct approximately 30 miles of new transmission main, expanding the Lake Michigan service area westward. This large‑scale investment is one of Illinois’ most significant water projects in the past 30 years and will connect the WaterLink communities to an established, high‑quality water supply treated by the Chicago Department of Water Management. The project includes multiple municipal delivery points and requires complex infrastructure work that will span residential neighborhoods, roadways and utility easements. Construction commenced in December 2025 and will continue through 2028, paid for by a combination of federal loans and local funding. Once complete, WaterLink will provide a safe, reliable and sustainable drinking water source that meets or exceeds all Illinois EPA drinking water standards, providing long‑term water security for residents, businesses and future generations.