Illinois EPA Provides Nearly $3 Million in Funding to the City of Springfield to Replace Lead Service Lines

SPRINGFIELD —Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Acting Director James Jennings announced the award of $2,890,226 in funding to the City of Springfield (Sangamon County) to replace lead service lines within the community. The funding is provided through the Illinois EPA's State Revolving Fund (SRF), which provides low interest loan funding for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects. The funding is in the form of principal forgiveness, so the City of Springfield (City) will not have to repay any of the $2,890,226 awarded. This is the fourth award the City has received from Illinois EPA for the replacement of lead service lines. A total of $5,907,942 was awarded in previous fiscal years, all of which received principal forgiveness.

"Making funding available to communities working to remove and replace lead service lines is among the Illinois EPA's highest priorities," said Acting Director Jennings. "This fiscal year, we have reinforced this commitment, with over $120 million prioritized for communities to continue the work of removing the threat of lead leaching into to their drinking water."

With this latest funding, the City will replace approximately 400 lead services lines. Lead is a toxic metal that can accumulate in the body over time. Lead can enter drinking water when corrosion of pipes and/or fixtures occurs. Service lines are small pipes that carry drinking water from water mains into homes. Many homes built prior to 1990 may have lead service lines or lead containing plumbing fixtures or faucets. Eliminating lead service lines in homes will help to reduce lead exposure for residents. For resources on lead in your home, visit: https://epa.illinois.gov/general-information/in-your-home/resources-on-lead.html.

In State Fiscal Years (SFY) 2017-2023, under the Water Infrastructure Fund Transfer Act allotment, the Illinois EPA provided $122 million in funding for Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) for projects directly related to activities that reduce or eliminate lead from potable water. In SFY 2024, Illinois EPA awarded over $13 million in LSLR funding. To learn more about Illinois EPA's SRF, visit https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/grants-loans/state-revolving-fund.html.