FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Amanda Damisch, Alderman Ward 1
City of Marengo | 815-206-9577 | adamisch@cityofmarengo.com
Derik Morefield, City Administrator
City of Marengo | 815-388-3372 | dmorefield@cityofmarengo.com
Marengo Opens New $7.55 Million Water Filtration Plant, Enhancing Quality and Fueling Regional Growth
State-funded facility delivers modernized water treatment to local residents and businesses while expanding capacity for Route 23 corridor development
MARENGO, IL — June 15, 2026 — City of Marengo officials today joined federal, state, and regional leaders to celebrate the opening of a new, state-of-the-art Water Filtration Plant on Greenlee Street. The $7.55 million facility marks the successful completion of Phase 1 of a comprehensive $26.9 million regional utility improvement program funded through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) grant program.
The new plant launches Marengo’s “Our Water at Work” initiative. By pairing advanced multi-cell horizontal pressure filters with Hydrous Manganese Oxide (HMO) and sodium hypochlorite chemical feed systems, the facility significantly enhances water quality by removing iron, manganese, and radium for Marengo’s municipal water customers. Additionally, the construction of a1,020-foot-deep Well No. 9 adds diversity and redundancy to the City’s local water supply, ensuring long-term utility reliability for the community while providing the additional capacity necessary to support future industrial development.
“This plant represents a landmark investment in the daily lives of our residents and the long-term future of our community,” said Marengo Mayor Mike Proffitt. “Through our vital partnership with the State of Illinois and the DCEO, we are securing top-tier water quality for Marengo families today, while building the foundational utility capacity needed to drive responsible economic growth along the Route 23 corridor for decades to come.”
The grand opening ceremony drew a delegation of legislative and agency leaders, including U.S. Congressman Bill Foster, State Senator Dave Syverson, State Representative Joe Sosnowski, and Renee Wott, Senior Northeast Regional Director for the Illinois DCEO.
The project was executed through a public-private partnership between city utility leadership, design engineers at McMahon Associates, Inc., and general contractors at IHC Construction Companies, LLC.
“By integrating dual pressure filters with specialized granular media backup chemical feed systems, and newly replaced booster pumps all supported by a 330-kW diesel standby generator, this facility delivers critical system redundancy,” said Chelsea Bauman of McMahon Associates. “The infrastructure is engineered to provide a safe, highly dependable, and resilient water supply capable of meeting both current municipal needs and intense future demand.”
Following the formal ribbon-cutting and a ceremonial “first pour” water toast using the first water processed by the new facility, regional leaders transitioned to an economic development roundtable hosted alongside the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) and the Region 1 Planning Council. “This new Water Filtration Plant is a significant achievement for the City of Marengo and the people it serves,” said Congressman Foster. “This project will deliver cleaner, more reliable water service while laying the groundwork for future economic growth. Back in Washington, I am working to secure more than $1.4 million in federal funding to support the next phases of this effort and, in partnership with local and state leaders, ensure Marengo has the resources it needs to build on this success.”
“Modern infrastructure is the absolute bedrock of regional competitiveness,” said Mark Piekos, Executive Director of the MCEDC. “The utility capacity unlocked by this filtration plant addresses a primary infrastructure requirement for the Route 23 corridor, positioning Marengo as a highly capable destination for future investment and job creation.”
The Marengo Water Filtration Plant is fully operational as of June 15th. For technical specifications, project details, or future development inquiries, please visit www.cityofmarengo.com.
About the Route 23 Utility Extension Project
The completion of the Greenlee Street Water Filtration Plant represents Phase 1 of a long-term strategic infrastructure master plan initiated following the 2019 opening of the Interstate 90 and Illinois Route 23 interchange. Supported by a 2025 regional Site Readiness match, furthered by a $1.4 million federal community project funding request introduced by Congressman Bill Foster, and accelerated by a recent $4.6 million DCEO Capital Ready grant to fund Phase 3, the multi-phase utility initiative aims to extend high-capacity water and wastewater infrastructure directly to the I-90 corridor to unlock acreage for industrial and logistics development.
About the City of Marengo
Founded in 1835 along the Kishwaukee River, the City of Marengo is a historic yet forward-looking community located in southwestern McHenry County. Balancing its rich agricultural and manufacturing heritage with premier regional connectivity, Marengo offers residents high-quality municipal services, top-tier public schools, and extensive recreational amenities, including the Marengo Park District’s 140-acre community park. Strategically positioned with direct logistical access to the interstate network via the Interstate 90 and Illinois Route 23 interchange, Marengo is uniquely positioned to foster sustainable community infrastructure while remaining a welcoming destination to live, work, and invest. Learn more at www.cityofmarengo.com.
Note to Editors: High-resolution photos, and architectural renderings of the new facility and the ribbon-cutting ceremony are available upon request by contacting adamisch@cityofmarengo.com.
