DuPage County awards $375,000 water-system modelling contract
DuPage Department of Public Works, Illinois · Meeting date: October 27, 2026 · Published: October 28, 2026
Trotter and Associates will model and develop improvement designs for DuPage County’s North Regional Water Facility, Glen Ellyn Heights system and Southeast Regional Water Facility through November 2028. The work is intended to identify upgrades to improve water quality and fire flow, while testing potential system expansion areas.
Key points
- The County Board approved a contract with Trotter and Associates worth up to $375,000, running from October 27, 2026 to November 30, 2028.
- The programme covers the North Regional Water Facility in unincorporated Itasca, the Glen Ellyn Heights water system and the Southeast Regional Water Facility.
- The consultant will create and calibrate hydraulic models, including up to 25 dual-hydrant flow tests, and analyse pressure and fire-flow capacity.
- The assignment can advance to engineering design, cost estimates and Illinois EPA permit submissions for county-selected water-main, facility or storage improvements.
- DuPage selected Trotter following a qualification-based process that began with five statements of interest and shortlisted three firms.
Full report
DuPage County is moving to establish a detailed hydraulic and design baseline for three county-owned water systems after the County Board approved a $375,000 professional-services agreement with Trotter and Associates.
The contract, approved on October 27, runs through November 30, 2028 and covers the North Regional Water Facility in unincorporated Itasca, the Glen Ellyn Heights water system and the Southeast Regional Water Facility. County staff said the work is needed to understand system conditions and develop recommendations for upgrades intended to improve water quality and fire flow. The modelling will also assess possible areas for system expansion.
Trotter will build the distribution-system models using the county’s GIS data and Bentley WaterGEMS software. The models will incorporate source-water connections to DWC, existing wells, elevated storage, reservoirs, booster stations and interconnections. Demand data will be assigned from available meter or billing information.
A calibration phase will include up to 25 dual-hydrant flow tests, selected to provide a representative cross-section of each service area. The consultant will use the test results and system boundary conditions to calibrate the models in accordance with AWWA Manual M32. The scope sets a target average deviation of 5% or less in static and flow conditions.
The analysis will cover average-day and maximum-day demand scenarios, producing exhibits for fire-flow capacity and static pressure. It will also use extended-period simulations for county-requested operating and improvement scenarios, including taking water towers out of service for maintenance and modifying pressure zones or boundaries.
The agreement is structured to move from modelling into design where the county identifies improvements. Trotter may validate water-main sizing, survey sites, prepare final plans and specifications, develop opinions of probable construction cost and submit applications to the Illinois EPA where construction permits are required.
Trotter was selected through a qualifications-based process under the Illinois Local Government Professional Services Selection Act. Public Works received five statements of interest, shortlisted three firms and ranked Trotter first after a consultant evaluation, citing its experience and knowledge in water modelling and design.
The contract is capped at $375,000, with requisitioned engineering-services spending of $10,000 in fiscal 2026, $300,000 in fiscal 2027 and $65,000 in fiscal 2028.
This summary was generated by AI based on the source document and may contain errors.
Source: DuPage County Board, DuPage Department of Public Works