The City of Waterloo announced last week the opening of its new water treatment facility.

The new city service is a comprehensive infrastructure project that also included construction of a water tower on the Waterloo VFW property that was completed earlier this fall.

“Together, these advancements represent a transformative investment in the community’s health, sustainability and future growth,” the city stated in a press release. “This state-of-the-art water treatment facility is designed to meet the needs of our growing population while adhering to the highest environmental and technological standards. With a processing capacity of 3.2 million gallons per day, the facility ensures safe, clean, and reliable water for residents and businesses throughout Waterloo.”

This new plant – one of the first pellet softening installations in Illinois – is able to accommodate three times the amount used daily. Waterloo uses about one million gallons per day at present, meaning future growth is accounted for. 

The new tower has a storage capacity of 500,000 gallons of water. The old tower next to Waterloo City Hall has a capacity of 250,000 gallons. 

The water source for this new plant is the Mississippi Aquifer just north of Valmeyer.

“These projects represent a significant step forward for the City of Waterloo,” Waterloo Mayor Stan Darter said. “By modernizing our water infrastructure, we’re not only addressing current needs but also laying a strong foundation for the future. This is an investment in the health and well-being of our residents, as well as the long-term growth and resilience of our community.”

Waterloo announced plans in February 2019 to build its own facility and leave Illinois American Water, its provider for several years, at the end of a contract that expired in October.

In July 2019, Waterloo purchased 9.17 acres of land off East Hunters Ridge just east of Valmeyer for the treatment facility. The cost of that purchase was $229,250 and included 8,830 feet of easement both west and east of the plant site for installment of water line.

In 2021, the city purchased nearly 28 acres of land in the area of 7800 Bluff Road from the Village of Valmeyer for $215,000 for the well site of this water treatment plant. 

In January 2023, the city learned that loan funding for construction of its more than $30 million water facility project had been secured through an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency loan with an interest rate of 1.24 percent. Per the text of this ordinance, the loan will be repaid from revenues of the system, with principal and interest payable semi-annually.

In September, Certop Inc., a contract water and wastewater operating company based out of Clinton County, was awarded a seven-month contract by the City of Waterloo for “operation, maintenance and management of the city’s water supply, treatment and storage facility,” as the motion was stated. The contract terms with Certop are for $9,500 per month from Oct. 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025.

As of last week, the new system is online and providing water to Waterloo residents.

The moves comes just in time, as Illinois American Water increased its water fee by 30 percent on Jan. 1.

“You may notice a slight change in the water as we transition to the new system,” the city stated in its news release. “The water currently being produced meets or exceeds established quality standards, ensuring it is safe and free from harmful contaminants. However, ongoing efforts are being made with adjustments to the filtration processes to optimize water quality and ensure the best possible service.”

For more information about the city’s water treatment facility, residents are urged to contact Waterloo Director of Public Works JR Landeck at 618-939-8600.