Illinois EPA Provides Over $32 Million in Zero Percent Interest Loans to Six Communities to Replace Lead Service Lines (Springfield, IL) – Illinois EPA Interim Director James Jennings today announced $32,427,103 in funding that was approved for six 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 as zero percent interest loans, so the communities will not incur any interest fees while the loans are being repaid.
“Illinois EPA is proud to partner with these communities as they work to remove lead service lines from their distribution systems,” said Interim Director Jennings. “Our robust State Revolving Fund provides communities the essential funding needed to remove these lead services lines sooner, eliminating the potential threat of lead in drinking water.”
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.
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.
A complete list of the communities receiving zero percent interest loans for LSLR is attached:
|
County |
Recipient |
Description |
Amount |
| Cook | Village of Brookfield | The Village will replace approximately 685 lead service lines. |
$8,528,336 |
| Cook | Village of Lincolnwood | The Village will replace approximately 27 lead service lines. |
$239,249 |
| Cook and Kane | City of Elgin | The City will replace approximately 850 lead service lines. |
$11,134,011 |
| Kane | City of Batavia | The City will replace approximately 150 lead service lines. This is Phase 2 of lead service line replacement. |
$4,500,000 |
| Lake | City of Waukegan | The City will replace approximately 400 lead service lines. |
$4,025,506 |
| Winnebago | City of Rockford | The City will replace approximately 960 lead service lines. This is Phase 6 of a multi-phased project. |
$4,000,000 |
| TOTAL |
$32,427,103 |
iIllinois EPA Provides Over $32 Million in Zero Percent Interest Loans to Six Communities to Replace Lead Service Lines
