Press Release - Friday, July 26, 2024
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Illinois EPA Provides Over $43 Million in Principal Forgiveness Funding to 17 Communities to Replace Lead Service Lines
SPRINGFIELD - Illinois EPA Interim Director James Jennings today announced $43,159,886 in funding that is being provided to 17 individual communities to replace lead service lines during the last quarter of State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2024. The funding is provided through the Illinois EPA's State Revolving Fund (SRF), which provides low-interest loan funding for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects. The funding for each of these awards is being provided in the form of principal forgiveness, so none of the communities will not have to repay any of the funds awarded.
"We know lead service lines are a major obstacle for community water supplies throughout Illinois," said Interim Director 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."
Lead is a toxic metal that can accumulate in the body over time. Lead can enter drinking water when corrosion of pipes and/or fixtures occurs. Service lines are small pipes that carry drinking water from water mains into homes. Many homes built prior to 1990 may have lead service lines or lead containing plumbing fixtures or faucets. Eliminating lead service lines in homes will help to reduce lead exposure for residents. For resources on lead in your home, visit: https://epa.illinois.gov/general-information/in-your-home/resources-on-lead.html.
In SFY 2017-2023, under the Water Infrastructure Fund Transfer Act allotment, the Illinois EPA provided $122 million in funding for Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) for projects directly related to activities that reduce or eliminate lead from potable water. Previously in SFY 2024, Illinois EPA has awarded over $13 million in LSLR funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. To learn more about Illinois EPA's SRF, visit https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/grants-loans/state-revolving-fund.html.
A complete list of the communities receiving principal forgiveness funding is attached.
| County | Recipient | Description | Principal Forgiveness Funding |
| Cook | Village of Hazel Crest | The Village will replace approximately 300 lead service lines. | $3,354,343 |
| Cook | Village of Matteson | The Village will replace 290 lead service lines over the course of two phases. | $2,893,048 |
| Cook | Village of Midlothian | The Village will replace approximately 300 lead service lines. | $3,735,329 |
| Cook | Village of Richton Park | The Village will replace approximately 250 lead service lines. | $2,863,404 |
| Cook | Village of Schiller Park | The Village will replace approximately 400 lead service lines. | $3,070,023 |
| Cook | Village of South Holland | The Village will replace approximately 300 lead service lines. | $2,755,000 |
| Grundy & Will | Village of Coal City | The Village will replace approximately 533 lead service lines. | $2,671,206 |
| Jo Daviess | Village of Hanover | The Village will replace approximately 235 lead service lines. | $2,755,000 |
| Lake | Village of Fox Lake | The Village will replace approximately 167 lead service lines. | $2,104,918 |
| Lawrence | City of St. Francisville | The City will replace approximately 307 lead service lines. | $1,325,339 |
| Macoupin | City of Carlinville | The City will replace approximately 42 lead service lines. | $458,939 |
| Montgomery | City of Hillsboro | The City will replace approximately 74 lead service lines. | $845,910 |
| Ogle | City of Polo | The city will replace approximately 175 lead service lines. | $2,000,000 |
| Shelby | City of Shelbyville | The City will replace approximately 350 lead service lines. | $5,310,613 |
| Will | Village of Crete | The City will replace approximately 300 lead service lines. | $3,363,786 |
| Will | Village of Steger | The Village will replace approximately 240 lead service lines. | $2,793,989 |
| Winnebago | Village of Pecatonica | The Village will replace approximately 73 lead service lines. | $859,040 |
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| TOTAL | $43,159,886 |
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