Governor Quinn Announces $2.8 Million Wastewater Project for Village of Forreston

FORRESTON - Governor Pat Quinn today announced a $2.8 million investment to improve wastewater systems in the Village of Forreston. This announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to drive Illinois' economy forward and protect the environment by modernizing Illinois' water infrastructure. Funded by a low-interest loan through Governor Quinn's Illinois Clean Water Initiative, this investment will fund the upgrade and expansion of the existing wastewater treatment plant while creating over 100 jobs.

"Help is on the way for Forreston to improve their wastewater treatment system," Governor Quinn said. "That's what our Clean Water Initiative is all about, helping make communities like Forreston even better places to live and work."

The Village of Forreston will use the Clean Water Initiative loan to upgrade and expand its existing wastewater treatment plant. The project will allow the village to maintain compliance with discharge limits and provide the capacity to treat all existing and future flows that reach the plant. This enables the village to comply with more stringent discharge limits, which will result in cleaner area waterways.

Forreston receives an additional benefit from the Governor's Clean Water Initiative as these subsidized loans result in additional savings over the life of the loans. The wastewater project is expected to last through the fall of 2015.

"Improving and upgrading these systems is essential for communities facing aging infrastructure that cannot continue to meet residents' needs," Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Lisa Bonnett said. "The Illinois EPA is proud to partner with communities on these projects that are necessary for protecting residents and the environment."

Governor Quinn first launched the Illinois Clean Water Initiative in his 2012 State of the State Address to help local governments rebuild or repair clean water infrastructure, including aging wastewater and drinking water treatment systems and plants throughout the state. These projects ensure that facilities are being upgraded to protect our streams and rivers, our drinking water supplies and the environment as a whole. In July, Governor Quinn signed legislation that doubles Clean Water Initiative funding to $2 billion and expands the program to include storm water management and treatment projects.

According to the U.S. EPA, it is estimated the water infrastructure needs in Illinois over the next 20 years will total $32 billion, including $17 billion in wastewater projects (which is the 6th highest among the states) and $15 billion in drinking water projects (4th highest need in the nation). To date, more than $767 million in wastewater and drinking water loans have been awarded under the Illinois Clean Water Initiative.

To learn more about Governor Quinn's Illinois Clean Water Initiative, visit CleanWater.Illinois.gov.