SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced it will continue its investment in the Lead Service Line Inventory Grant Program with a fourth round of funding — an investment that State Senator Laura Ellman says will preserve the health of both residents and the environment.

“I am pleased to see the Illinois EPA continuing their proactive approach to mitigating the prevalence of harsh contaminants like lead in our water supply,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This next round of funding will allow communities to build on their current progress toward streamlining accessible clean water. I encourage communities to apply for this indispensable funding opportunity.”

Under the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act, owners and operators of community water supplies in Illinois are required to submit a complete water service line material inventory to Illinois EPA for approval by April 15, 2024. A detailed inventory will allow communities to prioritize and strategize the replacement of known lead service lines within their water distribution system.

The Lead Service Line Inventory Grant Program offers grants up to $50,000 to units of local government to fund the creation of a complete lead service line inventory. The latest round – funded through the federal bipartisan infrastructure law – will build on the 260 grants previously issued to communities across the state, totaling nearly $10 million.

“As the deadline approaches for community water supplies to submit complete material inventories, we know many supplies are still in need of financial assistance to meet this mandate,” said Illinois EPA Director John Kim. “We encourage any system that is still working toward identifying the composition of their public water supply infrastructure to seek funding through this program.”

Applications for the LSLI Grant Program will be accepted until funding has been expended. Eligible entities can find more information about the program and apply on the Illinois EPA website.