Cook County, Alsip officials step up
Work together to stop 4-month flooding from the Robbins water main break
Flooding has been stopped on a corner of Chicago’s Beverly Woods neighborhood four months after a water main owned by the village of Robbins broke, causing damage to property and public health concerns
Because the water main belongs to Robbins, the break occurred in Alsip and affected homes and train tracks border Chicago and Blue Island, the leaders of multiple municipalities jockeyed over who should pay for and manage the repair.
In the end, leaders tell the Daily Southtown, Alsip is assisting by supplying the residents of Robbins with water while Cook County manages the long-term repair.
“I think we’re in a much better position,” said Chicago 19th Ward Ald. Matt O’Shea. “People continue to receive fresh and safe water.”
Public health was a concern early on.
The break allowed foreign objects and microbes to possibly enter the waterline, which was still delivering water to homes in Robbins before being shutoff Feb. 29.
Cook County’s Highway Department is securing permits it needs to fix the break, O’Shea said.
He said he is confident this longterm solution will be done in the
next few weeks.
The location of the pipe break makes it difficult because it is
under feet of gravel and train tracks on the 2600 block of 119th Street in Chicago.
Workers needed to completely shut off the water to stop the flooding, reduce public health concerns and fix the main. Mayor John Ryan of Alsip said the village is allowing Robbins use its water, a solution that has had no downside for Alsip, he said.
“The water being supplied to the Village of Robbins is approx. only 11% of what Alsip is pushing through its supply lines,” Ryan wrote in an email. He also echoed the hope the repair will be fully complete by the end of April, at which point Robbins can resume using its own water main.
But even if that timetable is extended, Alsip can supply Robbins with water it needs for as long as it takes, Ryan said. Alsip’s leaders have received no complaints from their own resi