Peoria Standard

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) has announced a grant of $1,240,882 to the Village of Buda, located in Bureau County, for the replacement of lead service lines. This funding comes from the Illinois EPA's State Revolving Fund (SRF), which gives low-interest loans for projects related to drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater. The provided funding is in the form of principal forgiveness, meaning Buda will not need to repay the amount.

“Through the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act, Illinois has made the removal of lead service lines a priority, providing community water systems with the framework to identify, inventory, and remove these pipes from service,” stated Acting Director James Jennings. “Through our State Revolving Fund, we are able to afford communities vital funding to remove and replace lead service lines to further protect their residents."

State Senator Liandro Arellano, Jr. expressed his support, highlighting the risk posed by lead in drinking water. “I’m excited to support critical upgrades in water service infrastructure in Buda. Toxic drinking water, due to corrosion of lead service lines, is a real threat to public health and safety, whether in rural Illinois or urban Chicago,” he said.

State Representative Ryan Spain also remarked on the positive impact of the funding: “I am very pleased to see Buda receive this funding to replace their lead service lines. We all know the risks posed by lead contamination in drinking water, especially as pipes age. Replacing these pipes will improve the health and well-being of the residents of Buda and provide peace of mind for residents in knowing that their water is coming from safe, lead-free pipes."

The grant will facilitate the replacement of approximately 97 lead service lines in Buda. The village has identified a total of 174 lines that need replacement. Mayor Lisa Aber commented on the significance of the grant for the community: “Buda Village Board and residents would like to thank the IEPA for the funding for our lead line project. This will help avoid financial hardship for the Village, while allowing us to replace these lead lines to improve water quality for our residents. This funding is so important for Buda and all small communities in Illinois to help with improvements.”

Illinois EPA initiated funding for Lead Service Line Replacements (LSLR) in 2017 with funds from the federal Water Infrastructure Fund Transfer Act. Up to 2023, the agency provided $122 million for such projects. In 2024, almost $89 million was awarded, with over $120 million reserved for 2025 projects targeted at reducing lead exposure from potable water.