DeKalb’s City Council has signed off on roughly $5.3 million worth of new water infrastructure on the city’s south side, betting that a long stretch of pipe will help reel in even more big‑ticket industrial players. The project centers on a 3.8‑mile extension of a 16‑inch transmission main around Illinois Route 23, Keslinger Road, and East Gurler Road, with officials saying they want utilities in the ground before the next wave of development hits, including a 560‑acre edge data‑center campus.
What the council approved
Council members unanimously tapped local contractor Elliott & Wood as the low bidder to build the line. The company’s proposal came in at about $5.075 million, and the city’s resolution pegs the total project budget, including contingency, at about $5.33 million, which is below the engineer’s pre‑bid estimate. The resolution also allows the city manager to negotiate and sign the contract and to allocate contingency funds for any change orders, according to the City of DeKalb.
How the city will pay
Instead of taking on new debt through the Illinois EPA’s low‑interest loan program, city leaders plan to tap the existing water‑fund reserve to pay for the installation and say that the fund will remain in solid shape afterward. City Manager Bill Nicklas described the extension as "another piece" of a broader push to grow south‑side industry that, in theory, brings in more property taxes and jobs over time, as reported by Shaw Local.
Why the line matters for the data center
The new main is designed to serve Project Vector, the 560‑acre Edged data‑center campus the council approved in December 2025, supplying municipal water for day‑to‑day needs, fire protection and long‑term expansion. Project documents highlight that the campus is built around waterless cooling technology with a reported water usage effectiveness (WUE) of 0.00, so the line is not primarily about cooling servers but about shoring up utilities and resilience around the site, according to Edged.
South‑side growth and reaction
DeKalb’s south side has already turned into a magnet for major industrial operators, with city officials quick to name‑check Meta, Amazon and Ferrara Candy Company as proof that the area is hot. The Edged plan drew a crowded public hearing and a mixed bag of feedback last winter, with neighbors voicing concerns about the project’s size and potential environmental impacts even as others pointed to tax revenue and jobs, as reported by Shaw Local.
Next steps
Now that the contract has been awarded, the city manager is set to finalize terms with Elliott & Wood and line up permitting and utility coordination so construction can get underway. Project filings call for a phased rollout of the Edged campus, with the first building potentially opening as early as 2027 and full buildout targeted by 2032. That long runway is part of why officials cast the water main as an early‑stage move to clear the way for everything that follows, according to Northern Star.
