Fehr Graham helps Rockford secure fifth round of lead service line replacement funds

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director John J. Kim announced the City of Rockford, Illinois, secured an additional $4 million in funding to replace lead service lines.

This is the fifth round of principal forgiveness funding Fehr Graham has helped secure for the City. The firm has helped secure $16 million used to replace more than 2,000 lead service lines in Illinois. Because the loans are forgiven – Rockford does not have to repay them. With Fehr Graham's help, Rockford was the first Illinois city to qualify for an EPA grant to replace lead service lines. With the latest funding round, Rockford plans to replace an additional 960 lead service lines.

Kim announced the funding, which is provided through the Illinois EPA's State Revolving Fund (SRF) and provides low-interest loan funding for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater projects.

"The City of Rockford has shown strong leadership by taking the opportunity to request funding for lead service line replacements from the Illinois EPA's State Revolving Fund since Fiscal Year 2019, which enabled the City to begin addressing lead service lines before replacement deadlines under the Illinois Environmental Protection Act become effective," Kim said. "The Illinois EPA is proud to partner with the City of Rockford, providing this essential funding to this community and others seeking financial assistance."

Service lines are small pipes that carry drinking water from water mains into homes. Homes built before 1986 could have service lines that contain lead. Lead is a naturally occurring element found in all parts of our environment. Eliminating lead service lines will reduce lead exposure for residents.

Since 2017, Fehr Graham has helped several Illinois communities navigate the Illinois EPA Lead Service Line Replacement principal forgiveness program for projects that reduce or eliminate lead from potable water. Illinois EPA has provided over $105.1 million in funding for lead service line replacement. Principal forgiveness is available up to a maximum amount of $4 million per loan recipient.

Illinois EPA anticipates distributing an additional $18.6 million in principal forgiveness funding under this program allotment by June 30. Learn more about Illinois EPA's State Revolving Fund here. Learn how Fehr Graham can help your municipality with its lead service line inventory and replacement.