Chicago Construction News staff writer
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved a $610 million loan to the Grand Prairie Water Commission to help nearly 300,000 residents in northeastern Illinois transition to a more reliable drinking water source.
The funding, provided through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, will support the commission’s Alternative Water Source Program, shifting six communities from a declining groundwater aquifer to water from Lake Michigan.
“No American should worry about the reliability of their drinking water,” said Jess Kramer. “We are pleased that Grand Prairie Water Commission will use this investment to ensure its water customers have a stable and reliable source of drinking water for current and future generations.”
The commission includes the cities of Crest Hill and Joliet and the villages of Channahon, Minooka, Shorewood and Romeoville. The communities currently rely on a groundwater aquifer that officials say is declining.
The project includes construction of a 62-mile regional water transmission system and upgrades to existing infrastructure, allowing the communities to transition to Lake Michigan, a more stable and high-quality water source.
“We thank the USEPA for making this critical funding assistance available and helping to keep the program affordable for our member communities,” said CC DeBold, chair of the commission’s board. “Fueled by this investment, we look forward to continuing our progress toward delivery of a new, reliable water source by 2030.”
The loan offers flexible repayment terms, including deferred principal payments for several years after construction is completed. The EPA estimates the financing will save the commission nearly $300 million over the life of the loan.
Since 2018, the WIFIA program has announced more than $23 billion in financing for water infrastructure projects across the United States, supporting drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems and creating more than 168,000 jobs.
The EPA said additional WIFIA funding remains available, including up to $6.5 billion for water systems and $550 million for state infrastructure financing authorities. The agency is accepting letters of interest for future projects.
