NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Construction has officially begun on a major regional infrastructure initiative that will bring Lake Michigan drinking water to thousands of new customers in the western suburbs.
The DuPage Water Commission has launched the first phase of its WaterLink project — a 30-mile pipeline extension designed to expand service to the communities of Montgomery, Oswego and Yorkville. Officials say the project is one of the most significant water infrastructure efforts in Illinois in more than three decades.
In mid-December 2025, crews mobilized along Book Road in Naperville, marking the start of on-the-ground work.
The work along Book Road will connect to the DuPage Water Commission’s distribution network in Naperville and continue south to Frontier Park. This is the first of multiple pipeline projects that make up the WaterLink project and is expected to take approximately one year to complete. In total, the entire WaterLink project is anticipated to take two and half years, with construction spanning from Naperville west to Oswego and across the Fox River into Montgomery and Yorkville.
Commission leaders describe the project as far more than a construction upgrade, emphasizing its long-term impact on public health and economic development.
“WaterLink represents more than infrastructure; it is a lifeline for our communities. By securing reliable access to clean water, we are investing in public health, economic growth and environmental resilience. This marks the beginning of a project that will serve generations to come, and we are proud to lead this effort with responsibility and vision,” said Jim Zay, chairman of the DuPage Water Commission.
The initiative will allow three fast-growing Fox Valley communities to shift from groundwater sources to treated Lake Michigan water, a move local officials have sought for years as populations expand and aquifers face increasing pressure.
WaterLink is funded by a combination of federal financing through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) and local contributions from Montgomery, Oswego and Yorkville.
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Motorists in Naperville have already begun noticing changes. For several weeks, Book Road between Rickert Road and 83rd Street has been closed with detours in place while crews prepare the corridor for pipeline installation.
“FOLLOW POSTED DETOUR” and other road work ahead signs greet folks in vehicles between Rickert Road and 75th Street along Book Road. (PN Photo, 2/4/26)
For a couple months, folks have been wondering why Book Road is closed between Rickert Road and 83rd. Watch for delays and/or consider alternate routes while work is in progress. —PN
Project managers say this initial contract will focus on tying the new pipeline into the commission’s existing Naperville system before work pushes farther west toward Oswego.
An official groundbreaking ceremony for the project is anticipated later this year after all bid packages have been awarded. The commission has also encouraged contractors to explore upcoming opportunities as additional segments move toward construction.
The DuPage Water Commission has delivered nearly a trillion gallons of fresh Lake Michigan water to its one million customers over more than thirty years. It has become the standard for safe, clean, affordable Lake Michigan water in Illinois.
To learn more about the project and the available opportunities for contractors, visit the commission’s WaterLink information portal.
Originally reported by PM Editor in Positively Naperville.
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