Lisle Officials Consider Takeover of Private Water Utility

Village board moves to review water bill complaints and potential acquisition of Illinois American Water system.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 10:05pm

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After a year of water bill complaints from residents in part of Lisle, Illinois who are served by a private utility, the village board is officially moving forward with a plan to review the issues and possibly have the village take over the water system from Illinois American Water.

Why it matters

The water woes in Lisle stem from a section of the village forced to get their water from a private company at rates up to three times higher than neighbors who get water from the village. This has led to an outcry from residents and the village board now exploring a potential takeover to address the disparities in water costs and service.

The details

Lisle Village Manager Jeffrey Cook said the village board is taking a closer look at taking over for Illinois American Water. This year, village officials started hosting open houses to get feedback, which resulted in an overwhelming no to paying for rebates for Illinois American customers, but yes to the long-term proposal of the village taking over the private water supply. The village board is now in a review process, looking for an independent evaluation of what it would take to acquire the system.

  • In 2025, Lisle residents began voicing complaints about high water bills from the private utility.
  • This year, the village board started hosting open houses to address the water bill issues.
  • The Lisle Village Board is meeting again next Monday to discuss the potential water system takeover.

The players

Jeffrey Cook

Lisle Village Manager who said the village board is reviewing the potential takeover of the private water utility.

Jordan Hess

Former Mayor of Missoula, Montana, who offered advice to Lisle officials based on Missoula's experience buying back their water system from a private company.

Illinois American Water

The private utility that supplies water to part of Lisle at rates up to three times higher than the village's own water system.

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What they’re saying

“It always comes down to how much is it going to cost and who is going to pay for it?”

— Jeffrey Cook, Lisle Village Manager

“From a public service standpoint, you've got to just buckle up for the ride. It is a long process. Do your homework, and if everything checks out and you move forward, then jump in with both feet.”

— Jordan Hess, Former Mayor of Missoula, Montana

What’s next

The Lisle Village Board is meeting again next Monday to discuss the findings of their independent evaluation and determine the next steps in potentially acquiring the private water system from Illinois American Water.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges faced by municipalities in balancing the needs of residents, the costs of infrastructure, and control over critical public services like water. Lisle's exploration of a water system takeover mirrors similar efforts in other communities, underscoring the broader trend of local governments seeking greater autonomy and accountability over their water supplies.