The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has taken significant steps to combat water contamination by distributing more than $500,000 across 15 community water supplies. This funding is dedicated to creating inventories of lead service lines, aligning with the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act. Grants, ranging between $20,000 and $50,000, are specifically targeted at smaller systems. These allocations are crucial in supporting communities’ efforts to identify and replace potentially hazardous lead pipes, ensuring safer drinking water, and complying with state regulations. This initiative reflects a growing commitment to public health and environmental safety in Illinois.
“All Illinois community water supplies are required to identify lead service lines within their systems, but the cost of doing so can be a burden for many smaller systems simply,” said Acting Director Jennings. “We are pleased that communities continue to seek this funding so they can ultimately identify and replace lead service lines found within their water distribution systems.”
