Oakview’s Water Issue: A Developer’s Legacy and Its Lasting Impact
- Jake Kilts
- Apr 9
- 24 min read
Introduction
In Lisle, Illinois, most residents take for granted that their tap water comes from the village’s municipal system. But in the Oakview subdivision – a neighborhood of about 350 homes – water service has been a decades-long saga of private ownership, higher bills, and infrastructure headaches. These issues date back to Oakview’s origin in the 1950s, when the developer installed a stand-alone water system instead of connecting to a village supply. This blog post explores what happened with Oakview’s water system, how its unusual ownership structure came about, why nearby areas like Maplebrook ended up unincorporated, what the Village of Lisle has (and hasn’t) done to help, and how this situation compares to other Chicago-area communities. Finally, we’ll summarize the core problem and explore realistic solutions to ensure residents have reliable, affordable water.
A Neighborhood with a Private Water System from the Start
Oakview is a subdivision of single-family homes built in the late 1950s and early 1960s (incorporated into Lisle around 1956). At that time, Lisle did not yet have a village-wide water utility – most homes relied on private wells or small private systems. In fact, Lisle only established its municipal water system in 1967. This timing was critical: when Oakview was developed, there was no guarantee of city water service, so the developer took matters into his own hands.
Developer-Installed Utility: In 1956, Oakview’s builder set up a private water and sewer utility exclusively for the subdivision. Rather than drilling individual wells for each house, the developer created a small water company to serve all Oakview residents. This meant Oakview had its own well, pipes, and distribution network independent of any village infrastructure. The system remained privately owned even after Lisle incorporated as a village in 1956. For many years, Oakview’s water was pumped from local groundwater and delivered through the developer’s network of mains running under the neighborhood.
Not Turned Over to the Village: Unlike newer Lisle neighborhoods where developers installed water mains and then donated them to the village for public operation, Oakview’s mains stayed in private hands. In 1980, Lisle purchased one of the two private water companies operating within the town to expand its municipal system, but notably Lisle did not purchase the Oakview water company. This left Oakview as an island of private water service even as municipal water spread elsewhere in Lisle.
Aging Infrastructure and Fire Safety Problems: By remaining on its original private system, Oakview missed out on many upgrades that came with the modern municipal network. Over time, the water pressure in Oakview’s pipes became a serious concern. The mains and pumps were not providing sufficient pressure or volume to meet peak demands – in fact, studies and even the local fire chief warned that the system could not reliably deliver enough water pressure to extinguish a fire. This came to a head in the mid-2000s, when Oakview’s low pressure and flow raised alarms about public safety. Residents in Oakview were essentially on a 1950s-era water system while their neighbors in other Lisle subdivisions enjoyed modern, high-pressure water service from the village.
How Oakview’s Water Issue Ended Up with a Private Utility
From the beginning, Oakview’s water infrastructure was structured as a private utility, separate from the Village of Lisle. Here’s how that ownership evolved over time:
1956: Oakview Utility Founded – The subdivision’s developer created the Oak View water and sewer company to serve the new homes. This company owned the well, pump station, and mains, charging Oakview residents for water service. Because Lisle had no municipal water at the time, this was initially a sensible solution. However, once Lisle established a public water system (after 1967), most new developments connected to it – leaving Oakview’s private setup as an outlier.
Lake Michigan Water via a Backdoor (1990s) – Fast forward to the early 1990s, when communities across DuPage County were switching from well water to Lake Michigan water (delivered by the DuPage Water Commission). Oakview’s private utility also wanted to provide Lake Michigan water to its customers. It secured an allocation from the Water Commission, but there was a logistical problem: transporting that water to Oakview. The solution was an agreement in 1995 between the Water Commission, the Oakview water company, and Lisle. Under this deal, Oakview’s utility would buy Lake Michigan water from the Commission, and Lisle would deliver it through Lisle’s pipe network to Oakview’s system. In other words, Lisle agreed to physically pipe water to the edge of Oakview, where it would enter the private mains. Oakview residents started receiving Lake Michigan-sourced water in the 1990s, but it was still distributed and billed by the private company. (This improved water quality, especially resolving past well contamination or radium issues, but did not fully solve pressure problems.)
Illinois American Water Takes Over (2002) – In 2002, the small private utility serving Oakview was purchased by Illinois-American Water Company (IAWC). IAWC is a large investor-owned utility that operates water systems in many Illinois communities. With that sale, Oakview’s water service became part of IAWC’s portfolio – a for-profit utility regulated by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Under IAWC (and even previously), Oakview’s aging system still struggled to provide adequate fire flow pressure. Residents now paid bills to Illinois American Water, not to a local mom-and-pop company, but the infrastructure on their streets was the same old one.
Mains on Private Land – A peculiarity of Oakview’s layout is that some water mains may lie under private property (like backyards) rather than public right-of-way. This is an artifact of how the developer installed the system before the area was platted with modern utility easements. It means maintenance can be tricky – if a pipe breaks, neither the village nor IAWC has straightforward access without dealing with homeowners’ property. This unusual setup underscores that Oakview’s water network was never built to typical municipal standards.
In summary, Oakview’s water system was never handed off to the Village of Lisle. The original developer’s utility transitioned to a corporate utility (IAWC) rather than merging into the municipal water department. As a result, Oakview residents remained customers of a private company for water service, in contrast to most Lisle residents who pay the village for water. This history set the stage for the frustrations and complications that followed.
High Bills and Low Pressure: Decades of Issues in Oakview
By the 2000s, the consequences of Oakview’s water issue were painfully clear to its residents. They faced two major issues: inferior water service (especially fire safety concerns) and much higher costs.
Fire Safety Concerns: Oakview’s water pressure woes were not just theoretical – they had real safety implications. On multiple occasions, pressure tests and fire officials noted that the system could not meet the minimum pressure requirements for firefighting. Hydrants in the subdivision simply did not output enough water to effectively fight a serious house fire. This came to light publicly when Oakview homeowners Susan and Jeffrey Srail sued in 2007, after a fire in the neighborhood raised questions about whether low pressure contributed to the damage. Their lawsuit against Illinois American Water (and the Village of Lisle) claimed the water system was dangerously inadequate, “unable to reliably deliver even the minimum water pressure and volume necessary to protect residents against fires,” according to the complaint. For Oakview families, this was a frightening realization – unlike other parts of Lisle, where robust water mains supply fire hydrants, their neighborhood had a hidden vulnerability.
Sky-High Water Bills: Along with subpar pressure, Oakview residents have long complained of paying much more for water than their fellow Lisle citizens. Because Illinois American Water is a private utility, its rates include profit margins and corporate costs, overseen by the state ICC. The result: Oakview households pay anywhere from double to triple what in-town Lisle water customers pay. For example, in 2025 a typical Oakview homeowner’s bi-monthly water bill has over $100 in base charges before using a drop of water – whereas a Lisle municipal water customer pays around $10 in base fees for the same period. One Oakview resident, Blake Srail, noted “we pay nearly double what everybody else pays… every year the prices seem to increase.”. This disparity exists even though the water itself is identical (Lake Michigan water) – Illinois American actually buys water wholesale from the Village of Lisle and then resells it to Oakview residents. Essentially, Oakview homeowners are paying a hefty premium to have a middleman deliver their water, despite being taxpaying residents of Lisle. Understandably, many feel this is unfair and frustrating: “We can’t even have village water, even though we’re taxpayers and village residents,” as Blake Srail put it.
Discrimination Complaints: The combination of higher costs and poorer service led Oakview residents to feel like second-class citizens in their own town. In their lawsuit, the Srails and others argued that Lisle had “unreasonably allowed Oakview residents to pay unfair rates” compared to everyone else and had discriminated against Oakview by refusing to incorporate their system into the village network. While the legal claim (that this violated equal protection rights) did not succeed, it highlighted the neighbors’ sense of injustice. They saw that other Lisle subdivisions built after Oakview were eventually connected to city water, yet Oakview remained excluded. Lisle expanded its water service over the years to many areas – often new developments would dedicate infrastructure to the city – but since Oakview’s mains were privately owned, the village never integrated them. Oakview residents felt they were left out of the progress that others enjoyed, all while paying more for a system that hadn’t been updated.
Lawsuit and Legal Outcome: The Oakview group’s lawsuit (filed in 2007, with various claims in federal and state courts) sought to force improvements – either by compelling Illinois American to upgrade the system or by pushing the Village of Lisle to take responsibility. The legal battle dragged on for over four years. Ultimately, the courts sided with the Village: a judge dismissed the case, finding that Lisle had no legal duty to provide water to Oakview or to intervene in the private utility’s operations. The village successfully argued it could not be forced to extend its water system, especially given the high costs and the fact that Oakview was already being served (albeit by a private entity). By 2011, the lawsuit was exhausted – and Lisle “won” in the sense that it didn’t have to pay for any new infrastructure. However, it was a pyrrhic victory: over $1.3 million in legal fees were spent (more than $400,000 paid directly by the Village of Lisle) during the fight. And in the end, Oakview residents still had the same water system, unchanged.
Mayor Joe Broda summed up the situation by lamenting that there were “no winners.” He called the lawsuit “a needless waste of money” and noted that as a matter of law the village prevailed, “but this is no cause for celebration.” The bitter aftertaste of the litigation also, in Broda’s view, set back progress on a solution. He feared that the years of legal wrangling only bought Illinois American Water time to cement its presence and make improvements on its own terms, thus “virtually eliminat[ing] whatever hope there was to provide an alternative to [Oakview’s] water service”. Indeed, during the late 2000s, IAWC did invest in the Oakview system – adding some mains, loops, or pumps to improve fire flow. By the 2010s, the pressure issue was reportedly mitigated (Oakview hydrants now meet minimum standards), but the high cost issue remained. Oakview residents got a safer system without the village’s help, but in return they were more tightly bound to Illinois American Water – and still writing large checks for those water bills.
The Maplebrook Connection: Unincorporated by Design?
When discussing Oakview’s situation, the nearby Maplebrook neighborhood often comes up. Maplebrook is actually a subdivision (or set of subdivisions) in the Naperville/Lisle area, known for its family homes and parks. While Maplebrook is not in the Village of Lisle (it’s in Lisle Township and mostly associated with Naperville), it shares a similar development era and, originally, a similar predicament: it was built without city water service. This raises the question of whether Maplebrook’s decision to remain unincorporated (not annexed into any city for many years) was influenced by a water system ownership structure like Oakview’s.
Built on Wells: Maplebrook was developed in the 1960s, around the same time as Oakview. Back then, the area was unincorporated county land on the outskirts of Naperville. Like Oakview, Maplebrook’s early residents did not have municipal water – most homes relied on private wells and septic systems. However, unlike Oakview, Maplebrook’s developer did not create a single private water utility for the subdivision. Instead, each homeowner typically had an individual well, or small groups of homes might share a well. In other words, Maplebrook had private water infrastructure, but it was on a house-by-house basis rather than a unified system operated by a company.
Delayed Annexation: Naperville’s city boundaries eventually expanded to surround Maplebrook. But incorporation wasn’t automatic – homeowners would have to agree to annexation, often with the requirement of connecting to city water and sewer (and paying the associated installation or hookup fees). For a time, many Maplebrook residents chose to stay unincorporated to avoid those costs and changes. Being unincorporated meant they paid no city taxes, but also couldn’t easily get city utilities. Maplebrook became a Census-designated unincorporated place in DuPage County, essentially a pocket of suburbia not governed by a municipality. This status persisted for decades. Even today, some portions of “Maplebrook” area homes remain outside Naperville’s city limits, still on well and septic (for example, homes along certain nearby county roads list their water source as private well and jurisdiction as unincorporated Lisle Township).
Impact of Ownership Structure: The question is whether a situation like Oakview’s – where a developer-created utility was in place – contributed to Maplebrook staying unincorporated. In Maplebrook’s case, the dynamic was slightly different: there was no single private water company to either hinder or encourage annexation. Instead, the barrier was the cost of converting from wells to city water. Many long-time Maplebrook homeowners were content with their wells and hesitant to pay for new water mains. Naperville, on the other hand, typically requires that infrastructure be brought up to city standards upon annexation (often via Special Service Areas or homeowner-funded projects). This created a financial disincentive for those residents to incorporate. In essence, Maplebrook remained unincorporated largely due to infrastructure cost concerns, a situation parallel to Oakview’s in that residents balked at paying thousands per household to join a municipal system.
However, one important difference is that Maplebrook residents at least owned their own wells, whereas Oakview residents owned nothing of their water system (it was owned by a private company). Maplebrook folks could maintain or replace their individual wells as needed; Oakview neighbors were at the mercy of Illinois American’s maintenance and investment decisions. In Maplebrook, over time, many sections did opt to annex and connect to Naperville’s water (especially as old wells failed or as homes sold to new owners). Today, much of Maplebrook is within Naperville city limits and on city water, though some fringe areas are still unincorporated.
In summary, both Oakview and Maplebrook illustrate how subdivisions built on private water sources often ended up partly outside municipal boundaries or services for a long time. Oakview’s private utility led Lisle to keep it at arm’s length (since it already had service, albeit private), and Maplebrook’s reliance on wells allowed it to function without annexation until the economics or necessity of city water became compelling. In Maplebrook’s case, the lack of an external utility was the hurdle (each homeowner had to be convinced individually), whereas in Oakview’s case, the presence of an external utility became the hurdle (a company stood between residents and the village services).
What Has the Village of Lisle Done to Help?
Over the years, the Village of Lisle has been well aware of Oakview’s water woes. While officials often emphasized that Oakview’s system was not under village control, they did take several steps to address residents’ concerns – or at least to explore possible remedies. Here’s a look at what Lisle’s government has done (or attempted):
1. Forming a Task Force (2005): In the spring of 2005, Lisle’s Village Board created an Oakview Water Task Force to study the problem of high water costs in the subdivision. This committee included Oakview residents (notably including Susan Srail and Janeen Brzeczek, who later became plaintiffs in the lawsuit) and village officials. The task force’s mission was to brainstorm solutions to Oakview’s private water situation. They examined options like challenging Illinois American’s ownership of the infrastructure or having the Village install its own parallel water mains in Oakview. The idea of the village effectively “competing” with the private utility – by building a new public water network on those streets – was bold but complicated.
Outcome of Task Force: After study, the village estimated it would cost on the order of $4 million to lay new water mains throughout Oakview (roughly about $10,000 per household). To make such a project feasible, the plan assumed residents would share some of the cost (through connection fees or a special service area tax) rather than burdening all Lisle taxpayers. Village officials report that a major hurdle was residents’ resistance to paying anything – even a reduced share – for new mains. From the residents’ perspective, they were already paying sky-high bills for water; they felt it was unfair to ask them for thousands more to fund pipes. Ultimately, the task force reached an impasse, and no new infrastructure was built. (It’s worth noting that some Oakview residents dispute the characterization that they wouldn’t pay anything – they argue they had already contributed in the past, for instance through the 1995 interconnect agreement, and expected the village to find a more creative funding solution.)
2. Pressuring the Private Utility & ICC: The Village of Lisle has limited direct power over Illinois American Water, since IAWC is regulated by the state. However, Lisle officials did engage in advocacy. They worked with Oakview residents to document the pressure problems and pushed IAWC to make improvements. Over time, this advocacy (and the specter of legal action) did yield some results: Illinois American upgraded certain parts of the Oakview system in the late 2000s. Additionally, Lisle has occasionally weighed in at Illinois Commerce Commission proceedings to oppose IAWC rate increases that would affect Oakview. Still, the village’s role here is mostly supportive, since they cannot dictate IAWC’s rates or force a sale without a huge financial move.
3. Attempted Negotiations to Purchase the System: On multiple occasions, Lisle officials quietly explored the possibility of acquiring Oakview’s water system from Illinois American. The CBS Chicago report noted that over the decades, the Village “looked into trying essentially to buy the system” so that it could serve those homes itself. However, “no deal was ever reached”. The reasons are not fully public, but we can speculate: Illinois American would likely demand a high price for an established customer base (especially after investing in improvements), and the village may have found that cost prohibitive. IAWC, as a business, has little incentive to sell a profitable service territory unless compelled. Some residents have suggested the village use eminent domain to force a purchase, but Lisle has not taken that drastic legal step – perhaps learning from neighbors like Homer Glen (which spent years and a fortune trying to seize water lines from IAWC, only to abandon the effort when costs ballooned).
4. Ongoing Communication and Small Measures: Lisle continues to provide information to Oakview residents and include them in village utilities planning where possible. For instance, the village’s website prominently notes that Illinois American Water provides service to Oakview and other nearby unincorporated areas, directing residents how to contact the company. Lisle’s public works also coordinates in emergencies – since the village’s system is physically connected to Oakview’s, there are contingency plans if something drastic happens (like if the private system needed an emergency supply or repair, the village could step in temporarily to assist). Moreover, Lisle officials in recent meetings have discussed creative ideas such as establishing a homeowners’ association or Special Service Area that could take charge of Oakview’s water infrastructure. Under such a model, residents would collectively own or manage the local distribution, potentially purchasing water wholesale from Lisle (similar to how the Morton Arboretum and Benedictine University handle their water systems on private property). This concept is still just talk, but it shows the village is still seeking solutions in 2025.
5. Acknowledging the Issue: Perhaps one of the most important things Lisle has done is simply to acknowledge the unfairness of the situation. Village newsletters and officials have openly recognized that Oakview residents pay more because of a historical quirk. By treating it as a community issue – and not just a private matter – Lisle keeps the door open to helping if a feasible path emerges. The mayor’s hope back in 2005 was that “the Village can help resolve this issue between the residents of Oakview and the water company.” While a full resolution remains elusive, this stance means the village is at least sympathetic and willing to collaborate with residents (as opposed to washing its hands of the matter entirely).
In summary, the Village of Lisle’s efforts have been a mix of study, legal defense, negotiation, and brainstorming. They have not yet yielded a cure-all for Oakview’s private water predicament. The cost barrier looms large in every potential fix, and as a result, Lisle’s actions have often been cautious. That said, the village did play a key role in getting Lake Michigan water to Oakview and in pushing the utility to improve safety. And recent developments suggest they are again considering novel approaches to give Oakview residents more control or better rates. It’s a challenging balancing act: Lisle must be fair to all its taxpayers and work within legal bounds, yet the unique plight of Oakview calls for creative thinking and perhaps, finally, a more decisive intervention.
Not an Isolated Case: Similar Infrastructure Arrangements in Chicagoland
Oakview’s situation – a private water system tucked inside a municipality – may sound unusual, but it’s not one-of-a-kind. Throughout the Chicago suburbs (and beyond), there are other neighborhoods and towns with privately owned or non-municipal utilities for water and sewer. These arrangements usually stem from the mid-20th-century suburban boom, when developers built ahead of city infrastructure. Here are a few notable examples and parallels:
Four Lakes and The Meadows (Lisle area): Within Lisle’s orbit are a couple of other areas with private water service. Four Lakes Village (a large apartment and condo complex in unincorporated Lisle) and The Meadows (another unincorporated subdivision) also get their water from Illinois American Water. Like Oakview, these developments were established with self-contained water systems. Four Lakes, for instance, was a private resort/residential development that likely had its own wells and mains; today, Illinois American operates the water there, with residents paying IAWC directly. The Village of Lisle sells Lake Michigan water to IAWC for those areas just as it does for Oakview. The similarities are clear: where private entities created the infrastructure, those areas remained outside municipal service.
Homer Glen, IL: The entire Village of Homer Glen, in Will County, is a high-profile case of being served by a private water company (first Citizens Utilities, now Illinois American). When Homer Glen incorporated as a new municipality in 2001, it inherited a situation where 79% of its residents got water from Illinois American. Over the years, Homer Glen residents have endured steep rate hikes – paying significantly more than neighbors in Joliet or Orland Park for the same Lake Michigan water. The village fought back by forming the Northern Will County Water Agency and even attempted to eminent-domain a major water pipeline to gain control. After nearly a decade and millions spent, Homer Glen recently abandoned that takeover effort because the price had ballooned to an untenable ~$200 million. They did reach a legal settlement for some concessions, and now focus on fighting rate increases at the ICC. Homer Glen’s saga illustrates how difficult and costly it can be to unwind private ownership of a water system once it’s in place – a cautionary tale for Lisle. It also shows the public outcry such situations cause: Homer Glen residents have said they feel “held hostage” by the private water company and worry the high bills will force people to leave.
Bolingbrook, IL: Bolingbrook is another suburb where parts of the community are served by Illinois American Water. Bolingbrook’s municipal water utility serves most of the village, but there are areas (especially in northern Will County near Bolingbrook) where Illinois American is the provider, due to historical development patterns. In early 2025, Bolingbrook IAWC customers voiced anger over “sky-high bills” similar to Oakview’s situation. Some even said they were considering moving away because of the water costs. Bolingbrook joined Homer Glen in the fight for control of the pipeline that delivers Lake Michigan water to their area (through the Northern Will County Water Agency). While Bolingbrook’s government wasn’t looking to buy every neighborhood system, they wanted to ensure affordable supply. This reflects a common theme: when private utility rates climb, residents turn to local officials for help, even if the infrastructure isn’t city-owned.
Unincorporated Pocket Communities: Scattered around Chicagoland are numerous small subdivisions that operate like mini-utilities. For instance, Steeple Run (near Naperville/Lisle) has a homeowners’ water district that runs its water system for the unincorporated subdivision. La Grange Highlands in Cook County is another area with its own water district, separate from surrounding towns. These are not private corporations, but rather local government entities or associations set up by residents to manage their wells and mains collectively. They often buy water wholesale from a nearby city or pump from community wells, and maintain their own distribution network. The concept is similar to what has been floated for Oakview – creating an HOA or special service area to take charge– essentially acting as its own utility. While this can give residents more control and potentially lower costs (non-profit operation), it also means they are responsible for all upkeep and future capital expenses. Some of these districts eventually dissolve when the area annexes into a city, but others persist for decades.
Municipal Buyouts of Private Systems: There have been success stories too. In some cases, municipalities have managed to absorb private water systems, especially when the private infrastructure was failing. For example, the City of Evanston was able to take over a small private water company on its periphery many years ago, and the Village of Plainfield acquired a private well system that served an older part of town when that area was annexed. These transitions usually require negotiations and money, but they demonstrate it’s possible. Often, grants or state loans help fund the needed new pipes. Residents may vote to approve bond referendums or special taxes to finance the buyout because they see long-term benefit in getting stable public rates. A key factor is scale: a very small system with big problems might be easier for a town to justify taking over (for public health reasons), whereas a larger, profitable service area (like Oakview or Homer Glen) is harder to pry loose from a private owner without paying top dollar.
Private Water Companies in Illinois: zooming out, Illinois has two major private water utilities: Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois. Together they have acquired dozens of local systems across the state. A 2017 Chicago Tribune investigation found these companies’ customers often pay 20% to 70% higher rates than towns that run their own water systems with the same source water. The business model is that they buy up aging systems (sometimes from towns that want to offload maintenance costs), invest in upgrades, and then recover those investments (plus profit) through rate hikes. Recent state laws (like the 2013 Illinois law and subsequent amendments) have made it even easier for private utilities to buy municipal systems by allowing them to pass purchase costs onto customers. This trend means that situations like Oakview’s could become more common, not less, if more towns sell their water utilities. It also means regulatory oversight and citizen vigilance are crucial to keep rates reasonable. Oakview’s case is somewhat reversed – a private system that the town never had – but the end result is the same kind of rate disparity seen elsewhere.
In essence, Oakview’s struggle is part of a bigger picture of fragmented infrastructure in the suburbs. When development leaps ahead of city services, patchwork solutions emerge – private utilities, well cooperatives, special districts – and many are still with us today. Some communities have found ways to integrate these orphan systems, while others continue to cope with the legacy. The greater Chicagoland area offers both warning signs and inspiration for Oakview: there are plenty of cautionary tales of expensive private water, but also a few roadmaps for how residents and local governments can team up to improve the situation.
Moving Forward: Summarizing the Problem and Exploring Solutions
The Core Problem: Oakview’s water infrastructure dilemma boils down to an ownership and investment mismatch. The neighborhood’s water mains and supply are owned by a private company whose primary obligation is to its shareholders, not to the residents of Oakview. This arrangement originated by historical accident – a developer’s choice in the 1950s – yet it continues to affect today’s homeowners with higher costs and a feeling of lost control. Unlike most Lisle residents, Oakview neighbors cannot vote out a water company or directly influence its budget; they’re subject to Illinois Commerce Commission rulings and corporate decisions made far from Lisle. The village government, while sympathetic, doesn’t own the pipes and thus has been constrained in how much it can do. This has created a persistent inequity within the community: one group of residents pays substantially more for a basic utility and had (until improvements) inferior service quality, solely because of the way their area was developed long ago.
Any solution must tackle both the physical infrastructure aspect (who owns/maintains the pipes and ensures adequate pressure) and the financial fairness aspect (how to get Oakview residents on equal footing with others on rates and costs). With that in mind, here are several realistic solutions or mitigation steps that could be pursued:
Municipal Acquisition of the System: Lisle could negotiate (or demand via the ICC) a purchase of the Oakview water network from Illinois American Water, bringing Oakview into the public fold. This would likely involve paying fair market value for the mains, hydrants, and customer base. A creative way to fund it could be a bond or loan paid off by Oakview customers over time, to avoid burdening other taxpayers. If successful, Oakview residents would become direct village water customers, immediately benefiting from municipal water rates (among the lowest in DuPage). This is a complex route – past talks failed over price – but perhaps with political will and community support, a deal could be struck now that the infrastructure is upgraded and well-documented. Some villages have used referendums or state grants to help buy out private utilities, which could be explored here.
Special Service Area (SSA) for Infrastructure: Another approach is for the village to install brand-new water mains in Oakview (parallel to or replacing the private ones) and finance the construction through a Special Service Area tax on properties in Oakview. Essentially, Oakview would get a modern public water system, and residents would pay an extra tax or fee over, say, 20 years to cover the cost (around $10,000 per home spread out, based on earlier estimates). Once built, Lisle’s water utility could serve Oakview directly. This approach was studied in 2005 and stalled due to resident pushback on cost. However, attitudes might change if the plan is better communicated, if costs are spread over a longer term, or if partial external funding is found. Phasing the project could also help – perhaps starting with the periphery of Oakview where mains connect, and gradually moving inward as more residents opt in.
Homeowners Association or Co-op Ownership: If outright city ownership isn’t in the cards, Oakview residents could band together to take ownership of the water system themselves. Forming a not-for-profit homeowners association or a cooperative water company would allow residents to collectively purchase the distribution system from IAWC. They could then contract with the Village of Lisle (or DuPage Water Commission) to buy water at wholesale rates, and hire a professional operator to maintain the system. This model could significantly reduce overhead costs (no corporate profit or ICC case expenses) and give the neighborhood a direct say in capital improvements. It’s essentially what some private subdivisions do and what Lisle officials mused about in recent meetings. Challenges here include raising the capital to buy the system and the expertise needed to run it – but partnering with the village for operational support could overcome those. Oakview would, in effect, become like a small water district owned by its users.
Legislative and Regulatory Relief: On the policy front, pushing for changes at the state level could provide relief. For instance, Oakview residents (with village backing) could lobby the Illinois Commerce Commission to adjust Illinois American’s rate structure – perhaps carving out a special rate for Oakview that aligns more with municipal rates, given the unique history. While the ICC is generally bound to let utilities earn an approved rate of return, public pressure can influence outcomes. Another angle is supporting legislation that makes it easier for municipalities to acquire private water systems without overpaying (such as tweaking the appraisal methods that currently inflate buyout costs). Even short of big legislative moves, residents can engage with consumer advocacy groups like the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) which has been highlighting the plight of private water customers. A collective voice can lead to reforms or at least moratoriums on hefty rate hikes.
Continued Pressure for Service Improvements: While working on long-term ownership changes, it’s important to ensure Illinois American Water continues to maintain and improve the Oakview system. The village and residents should keep documenting any service issues (pressure drops, main breaks, water quality concerns) and press IAWC and the ICC to address them quickly. If fire flow is still suboptimal in any part of Oakview, adding more loops or a booster station might be necessary – those could be negotiated as conditions in rate cases. Ensuring that hydrants are modern and functional and that emergency interconnections with Lisle are in place provides a safety net. In other words, even if the private ownership continues for now, Oakview can be made as safe and reliable as any neighborhood through vigilant oversight. The costs of such upgrades get passed to customers via rates, but at least residents see tangible benefits (and ICC can spread some costs statewide to blunt the impact).
Education and Optional Well Conversions: Although drilling new private wells today is generally not allowed (especially within municipal limits when a water supply is available), if costs became truly unbearable there could be exploration of exceptions. One radical idea would be allowing Oakview homeowners to install individual wells or rainwater cisterns for non-potable use (like lawn watering) to reduce dependence on the pricey water for everything. However, given regulatory and environmental hurdles, this is less practical and doesn’t solve the fire protection issue. More feasibly, residents can be educated on water conservation and efficiency to minimize their usage and thus their bills – low-flow fixtures, detecting leaks, smart lawn irrigation practices – until a bigger solution is in place.
Each of these solutions has pros and cons, and none is a magic bullet. It may even be that a combination is needed – for example, a short-term SSA to build connections and a longer-term negotiation to transfer ownership. What’s clear is that doing nothing will keep the status quo: Illinois American will continue to bill Oakview residents at higher rates (and likely raise them over time, as seen elsewhere). The community and village must weigh the one-time or upfront costs of a fix against the ongoing cumulative cost of high water bills and the intangible cost of inequity. With median water bills in Oakview already twice what they would be on Lisle’s system, in a decade many homeowners will have paid far more to Illinois American than the price tag of a new main or buyout share.
Conclusion
The story of Oakview’s water system is a classic case of how decisions made in a neighborhood’s infancy can echo for generations. A well-meaning developer in the 1950s installed a private utility to kickstart growth – solving an immediate need, but unintentionally creating a long-term divide. Today’s Oakview residents find themselves attached to a private utility that charges premium prices for a service everyone else gets at cost. The situation is frustrating, but it’s not hopeless. Through persistent community advocacy, partnership with the Village of Lisle, and lessons learned from other towns, there are pathways to a better outcome.
Whether it’s through integration into the municipal system, cooperative ownership, or stricter oversight, the goal remains the same: to ensure Oakview (and places like it) enjoy safe, reliable, and affordable water just like any other neighborhood. It will require political will, creative financing, and perhaps some compromise from all parties – but after decades of status quo, the momentum in 2025 seems to be building toward a change. Oakview’s residents have kept the issue alive, and village leaders are actively seeking solutions once again. With continued effort, Oakview can shed its “orphan infrastructure” label and fully join the community fabric in this basic service. The story of Oakview is ultimately about fairness and community – about making sure that no part of Lisle is left underwater by the quirks of history. By shining a light on the problem and working together on solutions, Lisle can turn the page on the Oakview water saga and ensure a sustainable future for all its neighborhoods.
Sources:
Lisle Patch – “Water Lawsuit Saga Reaches End” (2011)
Daily Herald – “Lisle wins lawsuit over water service” (2011)
Village of Lisle Official Website – Water System page
; Sanitary Sewer page
Midwest Planning BLUZ (Iowa State University) – Case summary of Oak View water system history
CBS Chicago – “1 subdivision in Lisle... gets its water through private company...” (March 24, 2025)
Village of Lisle Newsletter (July 2005) – Mayor’s column on Oakview water task force
CitizenPortal meeting summary – Lisle COW Meeting 3/17/2025 discussing private water options
Citizens Utility Board blog – “Illinois ratepayers ‘held hostage’ by private water companies” (2019)
Homer Glen Village Website – Water & Sewer Service history (accessed 2025)
Comments