News Releases - 2003

$2 Million Loan to Macomb for Expanding, Improving Drinking Water Treatment Plant

Springfield, Ill. -- Macomb has been approved for a $2,004,167 low-interest loan that will allow the community to improve its drinking water capacity by drilling a new well, and add treatment to improve the quality of its water, Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano announced today.

Macomb currently gets its drinking water from Spring Lake, which can produce 1.5 million gallons daily but is insufficient under drought conditions. The water produced has high dissolved solid levels and problems with turbidity (cloudiness), and the by-products produced by chlorination.

“Safe drinking water is a high priority for everyone, but people also want water that looks and tastes good. Therefore, it is very satisfying to be able to help communities like Macomb add the capacity and treatment they need to meet all those goals for their consumers,” Director Cipriano said.

It is expected that the project will provide an adequate water source and the ability to treat it for the next 20 years, the designed life span of the plant.

Work is scheduled to start in October 2003 and be completed by the end of May 2004.

The loan is being made from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s revolving loan program that utilizes federal and state funding to provide loans for eligible drinking water and waste water treatment projects at half the market interest rate. Interest paid on the 20- year loans is returned to the fund to support other low interest loans.

Director Cipriano noted that 80 percent of the funding for the loan program comes from the federal government and she has urged Illinois’ congressional delegation to ensure there is adequate federal funding to continue to assist communities in upgrading this vital infrastructure for the benefit of their citizens and the environment.