Water Commission Says It Is Not Responsible for Water Main Breaks

The DuPage Water Commission says it's not responsible for Wednesday's five water main breaks throughout the village of Glen Ellyn. 

, Dave Buckley, assistant public works director, said the water Glen Ellyn receives from the commission was continually spiking in pressure between 3:30 and 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11, which Buckley said caused the breaks. That is not true, according to Terry McGhee manager of operations for the DuPage Water Commission.

"The pressure was no higher than what they regularly see," said McGhee.

McGhee said his records show no spiking at that time, and even if it was, McGhee said each municipality is responsible for controlling the water pressure once it reaches their stations. Bob Greenberg, project coordinator for Glen Ellyn Public Works Department, said information may have left the department "too soon" following the breaks. Greenberg said they are still trying to determine what happened to cause the breaks but said old infrastructure may be to blame. "It's a very old part of town and it's getting close to its max time on its life."

According to Greenberg, some of the infrastructure dates back to 1907. One of the oldest parts of town, 436 Carleton Ave., is where a water main break occurred. Greenberg said he suspects the area is getting closer to the top of the list for some infrastructure replacements.