Illinois EPA distributes $113M to improve water, wastewater infrastructure

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released $112.7 million to advance water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Local governments and water districts are the primary funding recipients and will use the grants to support critical efforts to address aging and deteriorating water infrastructure. 

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District will use $55.4 million to replace existing, outdated water infrastructure. Efforts will go toward replacing water mains, hydrants, meters, service lines and associated appurtenances. 

The Urbana and Champaign Sanitary District will invest $43.1 million into its southwest treatment plant (SWP). The project will improve the SWP’s flow, increasing the capacity to better remove harmful compounds from wastewater. Plans call for replacing and upgrading outdated equipment that has reached or is approaching the end of its service life. 

The remaining projects receiving state support include: 

• The city of Assumption will spend $4 million to build a water treatment plant. The plant will be equipped with high-service pumps, pressure filters, ion-exchange softening units, anion exchange units and a chemical feed system. 
• The Otter Lake Water Commission will use $3.9 million to replace a water transmission main and build a new one. 
• The village of Strasburg will leverage $2.3 million to upgrade the existing lagoon. Plans include excavation, installing an aeration system and rerouting the influent and effluent piping. The village will also build a lift station and a force main to transport sewer flows to the wastewater treatment plant. 
• The village of Atwood will spend $1.9 million to rehabilitate, upgrade and make improvements at the existing wastewater treatment plant. Plans include building a new storage shed and lining the sanitary sewers with cured-in-place pipe lining. 
• The village of Yates City will use $1.4 million to drill a public water supply well. 
• The village of Maryville will spend $640,000 to install a water main and related appurtenance. 
• The city of Neoga will receive $117,500 to replace water mains, hydrants, meters, service lines and appurtenances. 

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