Senator announces $316 million for cleaner water in Illinois
On May 20, 2026, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will receive $295,551,000 in grant funding to help get lead out of the state’s drinking water by substantially boosting the state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for this purpose. This follows a separate allotment of $21,335,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities grant program for local clean water initiatives that will help address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and emerging contaminants in Illinois communities.
“This funding…will help improve the safety of our drinking water in Illinois,” Duckworth said. “ Every American, no matter their race, income or zip code, deserves to have confidence that their drinking water is safe, clean and reliable, and I won’t stop working to ensure that for all Illinoisans and Americans.”
