Cases of water are set up July 5, 2023, at the Hawthorn Woods Aquatic Center for Aqua Illinois customers who were without service after a water system failure. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com, 2023

After five years in Hawthorn Woods, Russell Halvorson has gotten used to high water bills, which recently increased again.

How high? He estimates his current bills average about $230 a month and spike to more than $330 during irrigation season.

“My water bill is higher than all my utilities combined,” he said. “Honestly, I try to avoid looking at the bill.”

In Hawthorn Woods, Halvorson is among about 1,200 Aqua Illinois customers, the second-largest privately-owned water utility in the state. And for the foreseeable future, all are in the pickle of not having a viable alternative.

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