Governor Quinn Announces Investment for City of Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today announced an investment to meet the drinking water needs of the City of Pittsfield. Funded by a low-interest loan through Governor Quinn's Illinois Clean Water Initiative, the project will help create jobs and meet water demands in the community. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to drive Illinois' economy forward and protect the environment by modernizing Illinois' water infrastructure.

"This project will ensure safe and reliable drinking water service for residents in the Pittsfield area," Governor Quinn said. "That's what our Clean Water Initiative is all about, helping make communities like Pittsfield even better places to live and work."

The City of Pittsfield will use the $402,775 Clean Water Initiative loan to construct an additional well to meet the city's daily water demands. Pittsfield's water source consists of two wells located in the Mississippi River bottoms north of Rockport. Prior to drilling the wells, testing was done to determine the capacity and quality of the water. All test results were very favorable; however, the wells have not performed as anticipated, with capacity less than expected. The new well will be located near the existing wells. Building a third well at the existing well field is advantageous both operationally and economically, and will ensure the city has proper well capacity at all times.

"Improving and upgrading these systems is essential for communities facing aging infrastructure that cannot continue to meet residents' needs," Illinois EPA 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."

"This well will be a critical back-up water supply to make sure Pittsfield can meet the needs of all our residents," Pittsfield Mayor John Hayden said. "We are absolutely thrilled to receive a Clean Water Initiative Loan; without it we wouldn't be able to complete this project. We look forward to beginning drilling in the next two weeks."

The city receives additional benefits from the Governor's Clean Water Initiative as the subsidized loan results in additional savings over the life of the loan. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.

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 our 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 stormwater management and treatment projects.

According to the U.S. EPA it is estimated the total water infrastructure needs in Illinois over the next 20 years 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 $1 billion 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.