Ford Heights Avoids Water Shutoff

By Michael Puente
ford heights
Chicago Heights supplies water to Ford Heights, one of the poorest towns in the state. Chicago Heights officials say Ford Heights owes them 2 million dollars for water service. If it doesn’t get the money in one week, the city is threatening to shut off water service. The two sides are scheduled to meet Friday to try to come to a resolution. Michael Puente/WBEZ
ford heights
Chicago Heights supplies water to Ford Heights, one of the poorest towns in the state. Chicago Heights officials say Ford Heights owes them 2 million dollars for water service. If it doesn’t get the money in one week, the city is threatening to shut off water service. The two sides are scheduled to meet Friday to try to come to a resolution. Michael Puente/WBEZ

Ford Heights Avoids Water Shutoff

By Michael Puente
WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

Water service will continue to flow in south suburban Ford Heights after the town agreed to start paying down its water bill by $30,000 a month.

Ford Heights owes $2 million in unpaid water bills to its neighbor Chicago Heights, which provides the village with Lake Michigan water. Chicago Heights threatened to shut the spigot off if its smaller neighbor didn’t pay up, or at least arrange to make payments.

But Thursday Chicago Heights Mayor David Gonzalez announced that Ford Heights had made a $25,000 payment, and will continue to pay $30,000 every month.

“The initial payment represents a first, good faith step in a long-term payment process,” Gonzalez said in a written statement to WBEZ. “As a result of the good faith effort, there will be no termination of water service to Ford Heights.”

Michael Puente covers Northwest Indiana and the south suburbs for WBEZ. Follow him on Twitter @MikePuenteNews.