Published on April 16, 2025 9:57 am
Last Updated on April 16, 2025 9:57 am
(THINGS AT THE READY FOR FRIDAY’S GROUNDBREAKING FOR EJ WATER COOPERATIVE IN DIETERICH)
Work is getting underway on an operations center for EJ Water Cooperative.
Now in its 36th year, the Dieterich-based cooperative provides water and wastewater service to a large portion of southeastern and central Illinois. As EJ grows, more space is needed to accommodate the operation.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday in the Dieterich Industrial Park East. The industrial park will be the site for a 3,000 square foot office building and a 12,000 square foot facility to store vehicles and materials. The operation will be located north of the Wright Furniture building in the industrial park.
EJ Water President Bill Teichmiller said EJ is currently renting three different buildings, so the construction will allow consolidation of the co-op’s operations. EJ currently has utilized five acres of space; this project will provide around 10 acres of area.
EJ will continue growing; while the new facilities will house office space and materials and vehicle storage, Teichmiller said there is a small shop behind their office on Main Street that is being utilized as a training center. He said an upgrade of the training center will be completed in the next couple of years. Not only EJ, but other similar entities are utilizing the building.
AKRA Builders is the contractor for the EJ project. Teichmiller is hopeful the new operation will be completed in the fall.
