Pittsfield –  On behalf of Governor Pat Quinn, Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott joined Pittsfield area officials on Oct. 27  to announce the award of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), or stimulus funds, for a major drinking water project. Illinois EPA is managing the award through the State Revolving Fund infrastructure program. Financing for the project will be provided by the Illinois EPA’s Public Drinking Water Supply Program, using both state and federal money, under terms made possible by passage of ARRA earlier this year by Congress and President Barack Obama.

 

Pittsfield has completed all of the necessary requirements to meet the “shovel ready” definition required in the law. Under ARRA, Illinois allocates the available funding based on “readiness to proceed” since one of the primary goals is to move projects forward as quickly as possible, creating badly-needed jobs as well as meeting critical infrastructure needs.

 

“Illinois has maximized the benefits of the federal resources being provided by President Obama,” said Director Scott. “We are now able to provide badly needed funding to Pittsfield and other large and small communities throughout the state.”

 

The City of Pittsfield, located in Pike County, will be using the proceeds of a $9,326,022 Public Water Supply loan to remedy major concerns about the City’s current water supply and treatment plant. Currently, raw water is obtained solely from Lake Pittsfield, which lacks adequate storage capacity and is not able to maintain the degree of treatment required for regulatory compliance. This project will provide a long-term solution for the city by funding the construction of two new supply wells, a new ion-exchange water treatment plant, as well as new main and pipe. Financing for the project will be provided by the Illinois EPA’s Public Drinking Water Supply Program, using both state and ARRA money, in a 20-year loan at zero interest, with 25 percent of the principal provided under the loan “forgiven” by state and federal funding authorities.

 

The stimulus legislation, signed into law by President Obama, provides a substantial increase in the clean water and drinking water revolving loan programs administered by Illinois EPA. The programs provide financing in the form of grants and zero interest loans to communities for such projects as wastewater treatment plant upgrades and expansions, new sewer lines, drinking water treatment plant modifications and expansions, and new or replacement water distribution systems.

 

The list of communities initially requesting funds included 746 projects totaling $3.24 billion for wastewater projects and 895 projects totaling $1.46 billion for drinking water projects. Illinois EPA received $177.2 million for wastewater projects and $79.5 million for drinking water projects through ARRA. This demonstrates the significant need for infrastructure improvements in the state.