DuPage Water Commission
DuPage Water Commission is a state-authorized governmental entity that exclusively wholesales Lake Michigan drinking water, purchased from the City of Chicago, to approximately 23 municipalities serving nearly 750,000 residents across DuPage County, Illinois.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersElmhurst, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DuPage Water Commission does
DuPage Water Commission is a state-authorized governmental water commission headquartered in Elmhurst, Illinois that operates as the exclusive wholesale supplier of Lake Michigan drinking water to municipalities in DuPage County. Established under the Water Commission Act of 1985 and entering full operation on May 1, 1992, the Commission purchases pre-treated water from the City of Chicago's James W. Jardine Water Purification Plant (the world's largest water treatment plant, with 1.4 billion gallons per day capacity) and redistributes it through dedicated infrastructure to approximately 23 municipalities and additional institutional and private utility customers, collectively serving nearly 750,000 people across more than 300 square miles.
The Commission's infrastructure includes the Lexington Pumping Station (220 MGD daily capacity with 10 pumps and 30-million-gallon reservoir), the DuPage Pumping Station (185 MGD distribution capacity, 30-million-gallon reservoir, and administrative offices), 2.4 miles of 12-foot diameter tunnel constructed 150 feet below surface through limestone, and over 185 miles of transmission and feeder mains. Supporting services include quarterly chemical analysis, monthly bacterial testing, annual Consumer Confidence Reports, the Water Conservation and Protection Program targeting a 10% per-capita usage reduction, the Gold Level Water Ambassador Program with ISAWWA, and educational facility tours.
The Commission's revenue model is wholesale subscription-based, selling water to municipal governments and utilities under long-term Water Purchase Agreements approved by its Board of Commissioners; it does not bill end consumers directly. The Commission maintains stable pricing with only marginal total rate increases since 2015. Recent strategic activity centers on the WaterLink project to extend service to Montgomery, Oswego, and Yorkville beyond traditional DuPage County boundaries, supported by 40-year and 17-year extensions of the upstream Chicago water supply contract executed in early 2024.
DuPage Water Commission firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DuPage Water Commission
- Legal name
- DuPage Water Commission
- Website
- https://dpwc.org
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DuPage Water Commission is a state-authorized governmental entity that exclusively wholesales Lake Michigan drinking water, purchased from the City of Chicago, to approximately 23 municipalities serving nearly 750,000 residents across DuPage County, Illinois.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DuPage Water Commission industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Utilities
- NAICS
- Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Water Retail Programs & Demand Management (conservation programs, rebates, water budgets, drought surcharges) (EUANAIAJ)
Keywords
Where DuPage Water Commission is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Elmhurst
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DuPage Water Commission business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Wholesale Water Sales: Wholesale water sales to municipal governments and water utilities in DuPage County. The Commission purchases Lake Michigan water from the City of Chicago and resells to approximately 23+ municipalities. No direct residential billing - end consumers pay through their municipal utilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Not publicly disclosed | Wholesale water supply to municipalities |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
DuPage Water Commission product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DuPage Water Commission purchases Lake Michigan water from the City of Chicago (pre-treated at the James W. Jardine Water Purification Plant) and resells it wholesale to 23+ municipal governments and water utilities across DuPage County, Illinois. The Commission operates the second largest water supply system in Illinois, delivering water through pumping stations, tunnels, and 185+ miles of transmission mains to serve nearly 750,000 people across 300+ square miles. End consumers receive water through their local municipal utilities; the Commission does not bill residential customers directly.
Product overview
DuPage Water Commission operates a unified water supply and distribution service for DuPage County, Illinois. The core offering is Lake Michigan water purchased from the City of Chicago, treated at the James W. Jardine Water Purification Plant (the largest water treatment plant in the world), then distributed through the Commission's infrastructure including the Lexington Pumping Station and DuPage Pumping Station via over 185 miles of transmission mains. Supporting services include water quality monitoring, the Water Conservation and Protection Program (WCAPP), Water Ambassador Program in partnership with ISAWWA, and facility tours. Recent expansion includes the WaterLink project to serve Montgomery, Oswego, and Yorkville.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lake Michigan Water Supply Service Wholesale water supply service providing Lake Michigan water purchased from the City of Chicago (pre-treated at the James W. Jardine Water Purification Plant) to municipalities and water utilities throughout DuPage County, Illinois. The Commission operates the second largest water supply system in Illinois, serving nearly 750,000 people across 300+ square miles through 23+ Water Purchase Agreements.
- Water Quality Monitoring Comprehensive water quality testing and monitoring services including quarterly chemical analysis by the Chicago Water Department, monthly bacterial testing by IEPA laboratories, and annual Consumer Confidence Reports provided to wholesale customers. Water meets or exceeds all Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and EPA regulatory standards.
- Water Conservation and Protection Program (WCAPP) Water conservation program offering educational resources, water calculators, leak detection guidance, sprinkler efficiency tips, and conservation pledges aimed at reducing water usage. The program supports compliance with Great Lakes Compact water conservation requirements applicable to all water utilities receiving Lake Michigan water.
- Facility Tours and Water Education Program Educational walking tours of the DuPage Water Commission facility in Elmhurst, available for youth groups (5th grade and up) and adults in groups of 10-25 people. Tours include the automated 'Water Comes to You' education model and a walking tour of the Pump Station.
Quantifiable outcome
- Water quality meets or exceeds all State and Federal drinking water regulations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use DuPage Water Commission
Customer profileNamed customers29 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
DuPage Water Commission technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
DuPage Water Commission partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- WaterLink PipelinecoreWaterLink project to bring Lake Michigan water to Montgomery, Oswego, and Yorkville. DWC Board approved Lake Michigan water contract on October 17, 2024. Construction project FW-1/25 Section 4 includes water main in multiple jurisdictions.
- ISAWWA (Illinois Section American Water Works Association)coreWater Ambassador Program partnership since 2022. DWC participates in Gold Level each year. Program elevates public perception, knowledge, and consumer education for water industry.
- City of ChicagocoreOriginal 40-year water purchase agreement signed in March 1984 to buy Lake Michigan water for redistribution in DuPage County. Extended in 2024 with 17-year extension and additional 40-year extension. City provides water through its lake intake system and the James W. Jardine Water Purification Plant.
- SCARCEminorEnvironmental education organization. DWC partners with SCARCE for water conservation education including Water Immersion Days at schools, Earth Day events, and Growin' Green Garden Market participation.
- The Conservation FoundationminorNot-for-profit land and watershed protection organization based in Naperville. Partnership for rain barrel programs and conservation initiatives.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSenseminorWaterSense program partnership promoting water efficiency. DWC participates in Fix a Leak Week and promotes WaterSense labeled products and practices.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights4 records
DuPage Water Commission competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Artesian Resources: Investor-owned water and wastewater utility serving approximately 300,000 people across the Delmarva Peninsula. Comparable regulated water utility with municipal-customer model, conservation programs, and infrastructure-driven operations.
- California Water Service Group: Investor-owned water utility serving approximately 2 million people through regulated municipal service. Comparable business model of providing water service to communities with infrastructure capex programs, conservation mandates, and rate-regulated revenue.
- Middlesex Water Company: Investor-owned water and wastewater utility serving roughly half a million people in New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Comparable in scale to DuPage Water Commission's customer base and in regulated water utility economics.
- SJW Group (Connecticut Water Service): Holding company for regulated water utilities (San Jose Water, Connecticut Water) serving over 1 million people. Comparable regulated water utility with municipal-style customers, conservation programs, and infrastructure-heavy operating model.
- York Water Company: The oldest investor-owned water utility in the United States, serving approximately 200,000 people in Pennsylvania. Comparable in operating a community water utility with infrastructure-heavy assets and regulated, contracted revenue, though at smaller scale.
- Illinois American Water: Privately-held subsidiary of American Water that operates regulated water and wastewater utilities across Illinois, including serving customers in DuPage County. It is both a customer of DuPage Water Commission and a directly comparable investor-owned water utility operating in the same geography.
Others
- Chicago Department of Water Management: Municipal department that supplies Lake Michigan water to DuPage Water Commission via the Jardine Water Purification Plant. Treated as a peer/ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor — it is the Commission's upstream supplier and a comparable municipal water utility operator at city-scale.
Broad incumbents
- Veolia Water North America: Operates and manages municipal water and wastewater systems across the U.S. under public-private and O&M contracts. Comparable as a wholesale/contract water operator serving municipalities, though organized around outsourced services rather than asset ownership.
- American Water Works Company: Largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility in the United States, serving over 14 million people. Highly comparable in business model (regulated water utility with municipal/wholesale customers) but at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth.
- Essential Utilities: Multi-state regulated water and natural gas utility (formerly Aqua America) serving roughly 3 million people across multiple states. Directly comparable regulated water-utility model with municipal and residential wholesale/retail customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DuPage Water Commission social profiles
Digital presenceDuPage Water Commission financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DuPage Water Commission leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
DuPage Water Commission funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DuPage Water Commission M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DuPage Water Commission
What does DuPage Water Commission do?
DuPage Water Commission purchases Lake Michigan water from the City of Chicago (pre-treated at the James W. Jardine Water Purification Plant) and resells it wholesale to 23+ municipal governments and water utilities across DuPage County, Illinois. The Commission operates the second largest water supply system in Illinois, delivering water through pumping stations, tunnels, and 185+ miles of transmission mains to serve nearly 750,000 people across 300+ square miles. End consumers receive water through their local municipal utilities; the Commission does not bill residential customers directly.
Is DuPage Water Commission a public or private company?
DuPage Water Commission is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was DuPage Water Commission founded?
DuPage Water Commission was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DuPage Water Commission based?
DuPage Water Commission is headquartered in Elmhurst, United States, in the North America region.
How does DuPage Water Commission make money?
One revenue line is on record: wholesale Water Sales.
Who are DuPage Water Commission's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Artesian Resources, California Water Service Group, Middlesex Water Company, SJW Group (Connecticut Water Service), York Water Company and Illinois American Water. Chicago Department of Water Management is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Veolia Water North America, American Water Works Company and Essential Utilities.
Does DuPage Water Commission have an API?
No public API is recorded for DuPage Water Commission.
What industry is DuPage Water Commission in?
DuPage Water Commission's product category is Water Utilities. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAG, Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration, with a secondary code of EUANAIAJ, Water Retail Programs & Demand Management (conservation programs, rebates, water budgets, drought surcharges). Its NAICS code is 221310 and its SIC code is 4941.