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There is a state program that provides low-interest loans for
wastewater, stormwater and drinking water projects. The Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency’s State Revolving Fund includes
two loan programs with interest rates under 2%.
"The first one is the Water Pollution Loan Program,” said Nidhan
Singh, deputy section manager for the program during a
University of Illinois-Extension Thriving Communities Webinar.
“That’s where we fund our wastewater and stormwater projects.
Then there’s the Public Water Supply Loan Program, which is also
called the Drinking Water Project, this is where we look to
treat your sewer and sewer-related projects.”
In Illinois, there has been a heavy emphasis on replacing lead
service lines. Lead pipes in public water systems have been
banned in new construction since the 1980s, but miles of lead
service lines exist in Illinois.
“In just our state, we have 23% of the entire nation’s supply of
lead service lines right here in Illinois and most of them are
in the Chicagoland area,” said Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy
Duckworth, D-Schaumburg.
Last year, the federal government estimated that there are over
a million lead service lines in Illinois.
Last month, the Illinois EPA announced a total of $43,159,886
for 17 cities and villages to improve their water
infrastructure.
“We know lead service lines are a major obstacle for community
water supplies throughout Illinois,” said Illinois EPA Interim
Director James Jennings. “Illinois EPA is committed to utilizing
our State Revolving Fund to maximize funding available to
communities to remove the threat of lead in drinking water,
while prioritizing disadvantaged communities that would have no
other resources to take on this challenge.”
This week, the agency also announced a grant opportunity with $5
million in funding for projects that will improve water quality
in Illinois through the Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities
Program.
The program seeks proposals for projects containing green
infrastructure best management practices that prevent, eliminate
or reduce stormwater runoff, reducing localized or riverine
flooding in Illinois’ rivers, streams and lakes.
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