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A land purchase authorized by City Council earlier this month has been designated as the site of Elgin’s next major infrastructure upgrade.
About 38 acres at 18706 Litig Road, west of the city, will be used for the construction of a future wastewater treatment facility. According to Public Works Director Michael Gonzalez, the project is essential to meet the demands of a fast-growing utility service area that spans nearly 33,000 acres—more than six times the size of Elgin’s city limits.
“As the city continues to grow, the infrastructure has to grow with it,” Gonzalez said. “City staff are constantly discussing how best to serve the needs of customers in the Certificate of Convenience and Necessity service area.”
Plans for an additional treatment plant have been in discussion for nearly 20 years and have long been part of the city’s Capital Improvement Plan. Ongoing residential and commercial development along the west side of County Line Road has now made the project a pressing priority, Gonzalez added.
“The entire Elgin utility system operates as an enterprise fund,” he said. “Those who use the service and benefit from it invest back into the system through user fees. This new wastewater plant, like the one completed in March 2023, is funded in large part by development and impact fees collected by the city. Elgin residents will not have an undue tax burden as a result of this project.”
The Doug Prinz Memorial Wastewater Treatment Plant was dedicated in April 2024 and doubled Elgin’s treatment capacity to 2 million gallons per day. That facility included significant upgrades such as a new generator, laboratory, filtration and sludge disposal systems, and was funded through the city’s 2021 Certificates of Obligation.
Gonzalez said the new facility will complement that investment and ensure that Elgin can continue to meet the needs of residents and businesses alike.
“This is a win for Elgin,” he said.
Mayor Theresa McShan was authorized as the official signatory for the land purchase.
