Project Location: 18534 W. Old Gages Lake Rd., Grayslake. View the project map. 

About the project: Lake County Public Works (LCPW) will be constructing a new water tower at 18534 W. Gages Lake Road. Planning and design of the water tower are currently underway. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2023.

Why is a new water tower needed?  

The Wildwood Water System serves a population of approximately 14,000 residents with an average daily demand of nearly 1 million gallons of water. Additional water storage is required in case of a disruption in service. The existing John Mogg Water Tower that currently serves the water system will remain in service to provide supplemental storage and pressure on the system.

Water towers are constructed to provide water pressure to homes and businesses and to serve as emergency storage. With the current water demand, residents living in the Wildwood Water system would be able to use water for less than one day in an emergency event such as a power outage. The new tower will provide up to three days of emergency storage.  

Why did you choose this location?  

LCPW hired an independent consultant to complete a robust report on water system storage, which included extensive research on project sites. After a thorough evaluation, the preferred location was identified at Gages Lake Road and Dady Court. This is a centralized location between the IL 120 Reservoir Site and Almond Road Reservoir Site, maximizing the benefit of the tower to the overall operation of the Wildwood Water System. The selected site best suits a long list of design considerations. It’s also the most cost-effective site, as in 1990, the property was donated to Lake County as part of the Tangueray Meadows Subdivision, and underground infrastructure was built to support the tower.  

How will this impact stormwater management and flooding?

One major concern from residents during the recent community meeting was flooding and the potential impact this tower may have on this situation. The construction of a water tower at this site will not increase flooding in this area. The design will include best practices to mitigate stormwater impacts in the area where the water tower will be placed. The site will comply with the requirements of the Lake County Watershed Development Ordinance, and the existing depressional storage volume will be maintained on the site. Lake County Public Works notified the Stormwater Management Commission of the drainage problems brought up at the public meeting and is currently looking into the matter--this item will be updated as we progress.

Will the water tower affect my property value?

No - there are no known reports that show water towers have a negative impact on property value.

Why aren't we building the new tower at the existing John Mogg Tower site?  

There is insufficient room at the existing location to build a new water tower that meets the requirements needed to serve the Wildwood Water System. The existing John Mogg Tower must also remain in operation to provide additional storage and assist in maintaining water pressure on the system.

How big will the water tower be?  

The water tower will be 1.25 million gallons, 150 feet tall and 79 feet in diameter at the bulb. The base of the tower will be 40 feet in diameter.  

When will this project start and how long will it last?  

Design is underway in 2021 and 2022, with construction anticipated to begin in 2023. Construction will take about 18 months, weather dependent. 

How do I stay informed?  

Sign up for updates on this project via email.

If you have any questions or concerns, call LCPW at 847-377-7500 or send an email to [email protected].