Illinois EPA Announces Federal Recovery Fund Awards for Illinois Projects

SPRINGFIELD – October 8, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug Scott announced grants and loans for environmental projects to improve wastewater quality in Illinois, using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The Recovery program was authorized earlier this year by the United States Congress and President Barack Obama.

Rockford, Villa Park, Taylorville, Sycamore, Streator and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) have completed the necessary criteria to meet the required “shovel ready” definition. Under ARRA, the state allocates the available funding based on “readiness to proceed” to move projects forward as quickly as possible in order to create badly-needed jobs to meet critical infrastructure needs. Villa Park will receive nearly $3 million in the form of 20 year interest free loans with the first 25 percent of the principal provided forgiven by the State of Illinois under the terms of the ARRA.

The federal Recovery program provides a substantial increase in the clean water and drinking water low-interest revolving loan programs administered by Illinois EPA. The program provides financing in the form of grants and zero interest loans to communities for projects such as wastewater treatment plant upgrades and expansions, new sewer lines, drinking water treatment plant modifications and expansions, and new or replacement water distribution systems. Details are as follows:

The City of Rockford, located in Winnebago County, will receive $6,877,227 under the terms offered under the ARRA. Using funding provided by the Illinois EPA’s Public Water Supply Loan Program, the City will do a major upgrade and rehabilitation of its public water supply. The project will establish a system of 19 facilities that will together comprise the rehabilitated Rockford water system. It will involve major improvements in the areas of water supply and treatment, water pumping and storage, water transmission and distribution, water system controls and monitoring, and water system operations. When complete, this initiative will address frequent problems with water main breaks, water pressure, as well as a number of water quality issues.

Villa Park, located in DuPage County, will receive Recovery funds in the amount of $2,922,116. The stimulus funding is provided through the Illinois EPA’s Water Pollution Control Loan Program. The Village will rehabilitate its sanitary sewer system using point repairs, sewer lining, sewer replacement and manhole rehabilitation in various parts of the Village to eliminate infiltration and inflow on the sanitary system and improve the structural integrity and hydraulic capacity of the system.

The City of Taylorville, located in Christian County, will receive $4,769,736 provided by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Public Water Supply Loan Program under terms offered under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The City will construct a new elevated storage tank and install approximately 20,000 linear feet of water main. These major improvements will ensure an adequate source of water for the citizens of Taylorville, while improving water pressure for most customers, and putting the infrastructure in place to accommodate future growth in the community.

The City of Sycamore, located in DeKalb County, will receive Recovery funds in the amount of $5,506,532 under funding provided by ARRA. The stimulus funding will be provided through the Illinois EPA’s Water Pollution Control Loan Program. The City is anticipating significant population growth over the next 20 years and is proposing several major upgrades to its wastewater treatment facilities in anticipation of increased demand over the 20 year planning period.

The City of Streator, located in LaSalle County, will be utilizing the proceeds of a $13.8 million Recovery loan to solve ongoing problems with an existing combined sewer. The 80-year old brick construction will be replaced with a new and separated sanitary and storm sewer system. The separation of the combined sewer serves Streator’s long range goal of combined sewer overflow reduction and ensure compliance with state regulations. Funding for the project will be provided by the Water Pollution Control Loan Program under terms made possible by passage of ARRA.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, which serves an 872 square mile area in northeastern Illinois, including virtually all of Cook County, will receive $5,647,514 under the terms offered under ARRA. Funding for the project will be provided by the Water Pollution Control Loan Program under terms in ARRA. Approximately 6,975 linear feet of deteriorating sewer line will be rehabbed to improve its structural integrity and hydraulic capacity.

The list of communities 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 receives approximately $180 million for wastewater projects and $80 million for drinking water projects through ARRA. This demonstrates the significant need for infrastructure improvements in the state.