On April 17, DeKalb residents will be able to vote on the creation of the Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority (KVWA).

The KVWA would oversee water supply issues in DeKalb, Boone and McHenry counties, monitor water levels and review applications for new high-volume wells.

The authority will be run by three appointed members, with each county’s board selecting one member.

A group trying to rally support against the proposed authority, Taxpayers Alliance of Northern Illinois, was formed in February. TANI said in a press release that creation of the water authority is based off “bad science.” The group also stated that the KVWA would threaten property owners by having the ability to condemn property, among other actions.

The Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water (A-LAW), a proponent of KVWA, maintains that studies show a potential shortage of water as the area experiences continued population growth. Existing governing bodies, the group says, will not respond quickly enough and may not be consistent in their efforts to conserve water supplies. A-LAW started the petition to put theKVWA on the April ballot.