Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott presents $8.3 million Public Water Supply loan to City of Rockford

ROCKFORD - After announcing the approval of an $8,308,283 Public Water Supply loan, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director Doug Scott today presented Mayor Larry Morrisey and Water Superintendent Tim Holdeman with the loan, which will enable the city of Rockford to make major upgrades to its drinking water supply system.  After remarks were made by Director Scott and the other officials, Scott signed over a check to represent the transfer of funds to the City of Rockford.

 

"A reliable and safe drinking water source is critical not only to the well-being of individuals, but also the well-being of a community," said Director Scott.  "This loan is an example of how we can help great cities like Rockford to meet basic needs and deliver a reliable supply of clean water for its residents for many years to come."

 

The City of Rockford is engaged in a major upgrade and rehabilitation of its public water supply, and this loan is the first of the state's investment in that effort.  The project, expected to total $75 million, is designed to resolve radium compliance issues, and to deal with a multitude of other problems that have developed on the Rockford system over the past 50 years. 

 

The work will center on the establishment of a system of 19 facilities that will together comprise the foundation of the rehabilitated Rockford water system.  It will involve major improvements in the areas of water supply and treatment, water pumping and storage, water transmission and distribution, water system controls and monitoring and water system operations.  When complete, this initiative will not only provide Rockford relief in complying with radium standards, it will address frequent problems with water main breaks, water pressure, and a number of water quality issues that have affected this major metropolitan area in recent years.

 

The IEPA plans to provide up to $40 million in financing for the project over a four to five year period, a commitment that would make Rockford the single largest recipient of funding in the 10-year history of the Public Water Supply Loan Program.  Additional commitments for the Rockford rehabilitation project will be accommodated through additional loans and loan amendments as loan funds become available. 

 

"The rehabilitation of our water system is an essential component in rebuilding our City's infrastructure.  The Illinois EPA, in providing this low interest loan, brings our City the opportunity to be better stewards of our citizens' investment in their water system, and we are grateful," said Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey. 

 

The loan from the Illinois EPA is part of the agency's Revolving Loan Program that utilizes federal and state funding to provide loans for eligible drinking water and wastewater treatment projects at half the market interest rate.  This will result in substantial savings for Rockford water customers over time.  Interest and principle paid on the 20-year loans is returned to the fund to support other low interest loans. 

 

"It is through this state and federal partnership that we are able to address the infrastructure needs of our communities," said Director Scott.  "I appreciate the efforts of Illinois' congressional delegation and state legislators to adequately fund the State Revolving Fund, a program that is vital in helping communities with the construction and maintenance of efficient treatment systems."

 

Due to Illinois' critical need for safe drinking water and effective wastewater treatment systems, Gov. Blagojevich continues to urge the federal government and the state legislature to fully support the State Revolving Fund (SRF), which is cooperatively funded with an 80 percent federal share.  Since the Clean Water Act was passed more than 30 years ago, the federal government's funding for clean water infrastructure has decreased by more than 50 percent, and in recent years, the inability of the state legislature to approve a capital plan in support of the SRF and other critical capital programs has threatened the state's ability to respond to our infrastructure needs.  We need to work together to assure that this year's federal and state budgets are adequate in providing our communities with the resources necessary to complete the infrastructure improvements required to protect the public health and promote economic development.

 

The funding for the project is being provided through the Illinois EPA as part of Opportunity Returns, the Governor's comprehensive, pro-active economic development plan for the Northern Stateline region.

 

Gov. Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois' history.  Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn't work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions - each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges.  Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses.  It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs.  Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.