Fehr Graham helps Du Quoin secure EPA funding for lead service line inventory
Fehr Graham helped Du Quoin, Illinois, secure $40,000 to help the City create a lead service line inventory.
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director John J. Kim announced the grants to the 48 communities that will help meet requirements outlined in the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act (LSLRNA). The grants range from $20,000 to $50,000 and will help communities inventory lead service lines, which is required before replacing lead service lines.
Fehr Graham has helped clients secure more than $25 million in lead service line replacement funding and has replaced more than 1,000 service lines for municipalities. The LSLRNA requires owners and operators of community water supplies in Illinois submit a complete water service line material inventory for the Illinois EPA's approval by April 15, 2024. The inventory must report the composition of all service lines within the water supply's distribution system.
Kim said this funding will help communities inventory types of lines within water infrastructure to identify which need to be replaced. The state received more than 100 grant applications and will announce a new funding cycle soon.
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.
The grant program uses a portion of Illinois EPA public water supply loan program loan support funds from loan repayments. Illinois EPA reviewed and scored all grant applications to determine priority, funding 48 projects totaling $2 million. Maximum funding per community was $50,000. Supplemental funding may be requested to help replace lead service lines.
A full list of grant recipients can be found here. More funding will be announced in the coming weeks. Find more information here.