EPA Announces $295.5 Million to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water in Illinois

EPA Announces $295.5 Million to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water in Illinois

May 20, 2026

Today, EPA is announcing $295,551,000 in funding to protect Illinois from exposure to lead in drinking water. This investment will go directly to states through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and is part of EPA's unwavering commitment to Making America Healthy Again.

This funding will go toward finding and replacing lead pipes (also known as lead service lines) that deliver water to homes. Communities can use these funds for identifying lead pipes, planning removal projects, and funding replacement of these lead service lines. Lead is a powerful neurotoxin that is especially harmful to children. Each lead pipe removed and replaced delivers real, tangible human health benefits in communities across our great nation.

"An investment in removing lead pipes is an investment in America's children and families," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. "The Trump EPA is committed to tackling lead exposure and this $2.9 billion will help protect current and future generations across America by accelerating local efforts to find and replace toxic lead pipes."

"Every lead pipe we remove is a victory for public health in Illinois," said EPA Region 5 Administrator Anne Vogel. "This $295 million through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund will support the nuts-and-bolts work-building complete service line inventories and replacing lead lines from curb to tap."

Providing clean, safe drinking water is a top priority under EPA's Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative and reducing exposure to lead is a critical piece of ensuring clean water for all Americans. 

The Drinking Water State Revolving Funds are financial assistance programs run by states to help water systems achieve the health protection objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The agency is distributing funding based on the best available information on the location of approximately 4 million lead service lines across the country. As good stewards of taxpayer dollars, EPA will work with states to ensure this funding is promptly provided to communities to support efforts to reduce exposure to lead through drinking water.

The Trump EPA is committed to tackling the lead issue like never before. EPA recently published a revamped lead website, found at epa.gov/leadExit EPA's website, including a new StoryMap about Lead and Children's HealthExit EPA's website. The streamlined website allows parents and caregivers, contractors, health care professionals, and other users to quickly find critical information on how to prevent exposures from lead. This is one of many actions being undertaken by EPA under the government-wide Federal Lead Action PlanExit EPA's website, which was launched in President Trump's first term as a blueprint for reducing lead exposure through collaboration among federal agencies.