$104 Million In EPA Funding Headed To Illinois Water Infrastructure

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The federal government has recently allocated $104 million to pay for upgrades to Illinois water infrastructure to be mostly spent by local governments and water agencies, Congressman Brad Schneider announced.

The funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Joe Biden in November 2021.

The bill provided for more than $50 billion to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for water projects, the single largest investment in water that the federal government has ever made, according to a memo from Assistant EPA Administrator Radhika Fox.

Of that money, $35 billion has been set side for safe drinking water, $12 billion for clean water and $1.8 billion for regional programs.

According to Schneider, a Highland Park Democrat, the money will support projects to upgrade water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure to protect both public health and local bodies of water.

“Clean water is at the heart of Illinois’ north shore," Schneider said in a statement. "Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re getting help to keep our water clean and our streets free of stormwater: today, we’re celebrating that $104 million is coming to Illinois through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the EPA."

Of the recently announced funding, $95 million will come from an supplemental allotment of $2.2 billion to the clean water state revolving fund, as well as $10 million from the $225 million in funding to deal with emerging contaminants.

As of last week, the EPA has awarded $4.7 billion from the infrastructure bill funding to 48 states, territories and tribes, according to the assistant administrator's memo.

"As states look to fund more projects and apply for [Fiscal Year] 2023 allotments, EPA is committed to ensuring the key Bipartisan Infrastructure Law implementation priorities are realized through development of the states’ capitalization grant applications and Intended Use Plans," Fox said. "A key priority of the law is to ensure that disadvantaged communities benefit equitably from this historic investment in water infrastructure."

About half of the supplemental funding has been set aside to grants and forgivable loans for communities that meet affordability criteria or certain types of projects, Fox said, and EPA officials have encouraged state governments to use the funds to support projects in disadvantaged communities.

According to Schneider's office, none of the recently announced money has yet been earmarked for any projects in his north suburban 10th Congressional District.

But a spokesperson pointed to his efforts to secure funding for Waukegan Water Works Improvement Project, which received $11.32 million, and the Lake Bluff Downtown Flood Mitigation Project, both through the omnibus funding bill released in December. And last year, Schneider also helped steer federal funding for Lake County’s Dady Slough Project, as well as water projects in North Chicago and Zion.

"These funds," Schneider said, "will support good-paying jobs in our communities and are a testament to the success of bipartisan legislating.”