Governor Quinn Announces $20.9 for Clean Water Project in Elmwood Park

ELMWOOD PARK - Governor Pat Quinn today announced a $20.9 million investment for a stormwater management project in Elmwood Park. The projects are funded by Governor Quinn's $2 billion Illinois Clean Water Initiative (CWI) and are part of his agenda to drive Illinois' economy forward and protect the environment by modernizing Illinois' infrastructure.

"It's important that we protect our communities from damaging floods," Governor Quinn said. "We must invest locally to ensure our cities, businesses and residents are prepared. This new project in Elmwood Park will alleviate urban flooding problems the community has experienced and make the stormwater management system more environmentally-friendly."

Elmwood Park will receive $20.9 million in low-interest loans from Governor Quinn's Illinois Clean Water Initiative for a series of projects to reduce sanitary sewer overflows, basement backups and allow for the continued supply of safe and reliable drinking water. The projects will construct new sanitary storm sewers and water mains along Westwood Avenue to Fullerton Avenue, within the Westwood Subdivision and along Thatcher Avenue.

"I commend the Village of Elmwood Park for these significant water infrastructure projects that will meet the needs of the community for now and future generations," Illinois EPA Director Lisa Bonnett said. "These projects will provide safe drinking water for Elmwood Park residents and protect their property."

The goal of the wastewater project is to separate the storm sewer from the wastewater collection system, alleviating the burden on the sewer system and eliminate basement backups and combined sewer overflows to the Des Plaines River. The new water mains will allow the community to replace aging distribution system infrastructure and provide a continuous safe and reliable source of drinking water for the residents of the village. Both the wastewater and drinking water projects are expected to last through the winter of 2015.

Governor Quinn first launched the Illinois Clean Water Initiative in his 2012 State of the State Address to help local governments rebuild or repair clean water infrastructure, including our aging wastewater and drinking water treatment systems and plants throughout the state. In July, Governor Quinn signed legislation that doubles Illinois Clean Water Initiative funding to $2 billion and expands the program to include stormwater management and treatment projects. To date the project has supported more than 24,700 jobs.

To learn more about Governor Quinn's Illinois Clean Water Initiative, visit CleanWater.Illinois.gov.