On Fir Lane in southeast Joliet, neighbors say "running water" is something they can count on only part of the week. Residents report their taps going dry two to three days at a time, sometimes week after week and year after year, even as the monthly bills keep landing in their mailboxes. More than 30 homes in this small pocket are affected, and families describe basements and garages lined with 30-gallon containers, buckets and jugs to stockpile what water they can. Many say they are buying bottled water and filling jugs for bathing and cooking while the city's billing system still charges them the usual rates. For residents with disabilities, the stop-and-start service has become a recurring hardship, not a one-off inconvenience.
Neighbors told NBC Chicago that the outages usually hit without warning and have dragged on for four to five years. Photos shared with the station show rows of containers lined up to catch and store water whenever it is available. Residents quoted in the report said new meters have pushed their bills higher even as the water pressure drops. One neighbor, Mattie Martin, told the station she has "a fully disabled husband" and does not know how long each dry spell will last, while another, Josh Brown, said he spent about $45 on water in a single weekend. The coverage has stirred community concern and sharpened calls for a faster fix.
City Awards Contract After Taking Over the System
City records show Joliet formally took over the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District (SEJSD) water and sewer system on Feb. 1 and quickly found the aging infrastructure in worse shape than officials expected. According to the city's Legistar, the former district had not properly maintained the system, prompting the city to move straight into planning for emergency repairs. On June 2, the City Council signed off on an alternate-bid contract worth $2,982,535.68 with Austin Tyler Construction to start water-main and meter work. The agreement covers both a base package and an alternate slate of replacement projects that officials say will be paid for through a mix of grants and city funding.
Funding and a Long Timeline
Will County documents show the county has pledged federal and local dollars, including CDBG and ARPA funds, to help rebuild the system, according to Will County. County summaries and earlier resolutions outline roughly $14–15 million in infrastructure work to be rolled out over several years to modernize the SEJSD network. Local officials acknowledge the overhaul will be a multiyear job that has to juggle grant schedules, contractor availability and community outreach. Residents say their priorities are more immediate and straightforward: dependable water service and clearer, more detailed timelines for when relief will reach their block.
Residents Push for Answers at a Town Hall
Neighbors told NBC Chicago they plan to press city leaders at a town hall set for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Residents say they want better communication about outages, a realistic schedule for repairs and some kind of billing relief while crews tackle the first phase of construction. City officials have said the contractor will begin the initial round of work under the new agreement and that additional projects will follow as money becomes available. For families on Fir Lane, the short-term wish list is simple: running water that stays on and repairs that arrive sooner rather than later.
The city has posted transfer details, FAQs and contact information for SEJSD customers on its website, and residents with urgent problems can report water main breaks at 815-724-4220. Notices say the full capital plan could take up to a decade as meter replacements, system mapping and larger main projects are phased in. We will keep an eye on upcoming council meetings and community updates as construction ramps up and funding continues to move through the pipeline.
