$3.45 Million In Funding Announced For Grand Prairie Water Commission

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Last week, Congressman Bill Foster and leaders from the Grand Prairie Water Commission announced $3.45 million in federal funding for the project, which will help the Commission bring an alternative water source to the region, according to a news release.

Foster had requested and secured the funds as Community Project Funding in the federal spending bill for Fiscal Year 2023. The funding will be used for infrastructure development costs as the commission, currently in formation, undertakes the work necessary to use Lake Michigan as its new water source, a release states.

“We are grateful for the chance to host Congressman Foster and the leadership of the future Grand Prairie Water Commission in Romeoville today,” Romeoville Mayor John Noak said in a news release. “Congressman Foster stood with us when we announced this commission last year, and this Community Project Funding shows he continues to stand with us in Washington.”

"During my time in Congress, I've fought to ensure every household has access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water," Foster said. "This past year, I secured nearly $3.5 million to support the Grand Prairie Water Commission's efforts to tap into Lake Michigan as its primary source of drinking water and, previously, I worked with Rep. Underwood to secure nearly $3.5 million to help replace aging water mains in Joliet. These projects will ensure the region has clean, reliable, and sustainable drinking water for decades to come."

The Grand Prairie Water Commission was announced last year, and is made up Channahon, Crest Hill, Joliet, Minooka, Romeoville and Shorewood, which are facing anticipated water challenges. The communities have teamed up to form the GPWC and bring treated Lake Michigan water, purchased from the City of Chicago, to the area.

"The City of Joliet is grateful for Rep. Foster's leadership and his partnership on this project,” said Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy. “These funds will help reduce long-term costs of the system and benefit ratepayers, and we can't thank him enough."

GPWC chair and Shorewood Mayor Clarence “CC” DeBold said, “This is a federal investment that will help our whole region. We appreciate the Congressman's support as we continue the engineering and planning necessary to deliver a sustainable water source to our communities."

Planning and engineering for the Commission is underway, with construction of new water supply infrastructure anticipated to begin in 2024, according to a release. Last month, the Chicago and Joliet city councils approved a 100-year water supply agreement that will be transferrable to the GPWC upon its official formation, planned for early next year.