The following is a current list of IEPA funded Water and Sewer Main construction projects in the City of Chicago. Please note that the listed projects are for our Capital Improvements. Some of our street jobs, such as local water and sewer main repair, and catch basin relining, may not be listed.

City of Chicago Department of Water Management
Funding for Water and Sewer System Improvements

The Department of Water Management makes improvements to the Chicago Water and Sewer Systems using revenues from charges approved by the Chicago City Council and paid by DWM customers. 

• The Chicago Water System provides potable water to the City and more than 100 suburban communities, approximately 5.4 million people.
• The Chicago Sewer System collects domestic sewage and storm water within the City and conveys it to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago for treatment.

These improvements are financed in part with low interest Clean Water or Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs) administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). SRFs have been established in each State to fund improvements to the infrastructure that provides and protects one of our most valuable resources – water. A portion of SRF funding is provided by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. In Illinois, the Clean Water SRF is called the IEPA Water Pollution Control Loan Program, and the IEPA Drinking Water SRF is called the Public Water Supply Loan Program.

• Projects partially funded by the IEPA Public Water Supply Loan Program
  • Replacement of aging water mains – These projects benefit residents throughout the City by replacing out of date water mains, which are subject to leaks and breaks, reducing lost water and repair costs.
  • Improvements at DWM’s water purification plants and pumping stations – These projects benefit all DWM customers by replacing out of date and difficult to maintain equipment with more energy and operationally efficient equipment, and by modernizing buildings and structures.

IEPA Funded Facilities Projects

• Projects partially funded by the IEPA Water Pollution Control Loan Program
  • Replacement of hydraulically inadequate sewers – These projects benefit the residents of Chicago by addressing hydraulic issues, thereby improving drainage and reducing the potential for flooding.
  • Rehabilitation of aging sewers by lining – These projects benefit residents throughout the City by extending the life of old, but hydraulically adequate, sewers at lower cost than excavating and replacing sewers in the streets.  Furthermore, lining technology is less disruptive to vehicular and pedestrian traffic during construction.

IEPA Funded Private Contract Sewer Improvement Projects by Year
2018 2019 2020