Freeport wins roughly $31 million for water projects; council adopts $14.06 million IEPA grant for Well 12
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Summary
City staff announced about $31 million in state and other grant/forgivable-loan funding for water-system improvements centered on Well 12; council adopted a $14,063,530.48 IEPA grant agreement to begin Well 12 construction, passing the resolution 7-1.
Freeport officials on record that the city will receive roughly $31,000,000 in grants and forgivable loans to support construction of Well 12, a major element of the municipality's long-term water-capacity plan.
"Tonight marks an important moment for the City Of Freeport and for our water system," City Manager Boyer said, describing a decade-long effort to address emerging contaminants in local production wells. Boyer said the city decommissioned the highest-reading wells in prior years and built Well 11 to stabilize supply while plans advanced for Well 12.
Manager Boyer told the council that Well 12 "will provide approximately 65% of the city's water supply" and said the announced investment "is not just about capacity, it's about reliability and public health for the long term." Boyer also said roughly $1,000,000 in additional funding was secured with support from Congressman Eric Sorensen.
Following the announcement, the council considered and adopted a resolution authorizing a grant agreement with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for an "emerging contaminants for small communities grant" in the amount of $14,063,530.48. Alderman Sellers moved adoption of Resolution 20 26 0 1 and Alderman Klem seconded; the clerk recorded the roll-call vote as 7 in favor and 1 opposed (Alderman Sanders), and the resolution was adopted.
City staff framed the Well 12 project as adding redundancy for emergencies, improving system reliability and replacing wells affected by contaminants identified in earlier EPA pilot studies. Manager Boyer said the Well 11 project, which came online in 2023, has already helped meet demand while the city prepares to bring Well 12 online.
Next steps identified during the meeting included formal acceptance of the grant by council and continued planning and construction work by staff. No detailed construction schedule for Well 12 beyond funding approval was provided during the meeting.