EPA has approved a $610 million loan to support a regional water infrastructure project in northeastern Illinois. The funding, provided through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, will help transition communities to a more reliable drinking water source.
The loan will fund the Grand Prairie Water Commission’s Alternative Water Source Program. The project will construct a 62-mile water transmission network and upgrade related infrastructure to deliver water from Lake Michigan. It will replace reliance on a declining groundwater aquifer currently serving the region.
The Grand Prairie Water Commission, which includes Joliet, Crest Hill, Channahon, Minooka, Shorewood, and Romeoville, will implement the project. The program aims to establish a long-term, stable water supply for nearly 300,000 residents.
The project is in the development phase, with completion targeted by 2030. The WIFIA loan structure allows deferred repayment and flexible financing, reducing total borrowing costs by an estimated $300 million over the life of the loan.
The project will improve water reliability, support population growth, and enhance long-term resource sustainability.