The Environmental Protection Agency is providing a $610 million loan to the Grand Prairie Water Commission (GPWC) in Illinois to connect nearly 300,000 residents to clean, reliable drinking water as part of a larger $1.2 billion initiative. Construction is expected to begin either later this year or in early 2027.
The Alternative Water Source Program (AWSP) will build a 62-mile regional water transmission network, replacing the depleting groundwater aquifer source with Lake Michigan. Plans include additional infrastructure projects, including the construction of three large pumping stations, three water storage facilities and 13 water delivery structures.
The GPWC has already acquired land parcels to facilitate development. These sites will host elevated water storage tanks, intermediate pump stations and other critical water infrastructure planned as part of the project’s holistic vision.
The commission oversees six member communities that currently depend on a declining groundwater aquifer to provide safe drinking water. These communities include:
- Crest Hill.
- Joliet.
- Channahon.
- Minooka.
- Shorewood.
- Romeoville.
The AWSP will play a central role in simultaneously protecting public health while preserving long-term water sustainability through a publicly owned drinking water infrastructure system.
Notably, the GPWC will be able to customize repayment schedules and defer principal payments for years after completing the project. As a result, the commission estimates that it will save almost $300 million across the life of the loan.
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