Joliet Alternative Water Source Program: Formation of a New Regional Water Provider

The City of Joliet, IL, has spearheaded their Alternative Water Source Program (AWSP or the Program), partnering with other regional communities and a multi-disciplinary team of consultants, with the goal of providing a sustainable, reliable, and high-quality water supply to support the interests of a new regional water commission and the more than 385,000 people it will eventually serve. Program efforts through 2024 have largely involved the creation of an overall delivery strategy, establishment of governance and managing protocols, and developing program-level standards and frameworks to manage key elements of the Program. This paper provides an overview of how the establishment of the AWSP has been a key instrument for the management of multi-disciplinary teams and an overview of some key elements which are inherent to the planning, design, and implementation of large infrastructure projects.