Environmental Progress - Winter 2002

New $70 Million Program Will Help Unsewered Towns

More than 200 Illinois communities lack waste treatment facilities.

Gov. George Ryan announced the $70 million program during an appearance at Downs.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has a new $70 million grant program to help smaller communities replace polluting septic systems with sewage treatment facilities.

The program was announced in January in the McLean County community of Downs by Gov. George H. Ryan.

"The runoff from aging individual septic tanks in some of our small rural communities is getting into nearby streams, causing pollution problems and potential public health hazards," said Gov. Ryan.

"The Unsewered Communities Grant Program will focus on helping those smaller low and moderate income communities that face enforcement from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency requiring them to stop runoff that is polluting the environment," he added. Funding for the program will come from remaining already appropriated funds of the Build Illinois Bond Fund "Compliance Grant" program initiated in 1988.

"The Illinois EPA's Water Pollution Control low-interest revolving loan program has provided more than $1 billion to communities around the state to improve sewage and wastewater treatment infrastructure but some communities need additional help from the state. This program will let them move forward," said Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano. Downs is facing Illinois EPA enforcement mandates to stop septic tank runoff pollution of a local stream discovered during inspections starting in 2000.

Project will benefit school district

"Governor Ryan has done more for small communities than any other governor in Illinois history and this is another great example," said Downs Mayor Jeff Schwartz.

Schwartz noted the estimated $1.6 million grant for which Downs would be eligible, along with low-interest state loans allowing construction of a sewage system, is expected also to benefit the local Tri-Valley School District. The school district estimated it would cost up to $300,000 to replace its septic system with one that would meet current environmental regulations. "That is money that can now go directly into classroom education, so this program is good not only for the environment but for education as well," Schwartz added.

Too rich for grants, too poor for loans

Mayor Schwartz noted that Downs had been attempting to finance a sewer system for several years but "we were too rich for grants and too poor for loans."

Another community expected to benefit from the program is the McLean County community of Lexington, also currently facing enforcement deadlines from Illinois EPA. Lexington Mayor Frank Feigl was present at the program's unveiling.

Grants under the program will be capped at $5 million per community and the percentage amounts will range from 30 to 70 percent, on a sliding scale pegged to median low to moderate household income levels.

Priority will be given to those communities facing enforcement deadlines from Illinois EPA because of ongoing pollution issues.

"This grant program is going to mean a great deal to many of the small communities here in Illinois," said Gov. Ryan.

There are more than 200 communities around the state that do not have sewers.