EPIC Comments on Illinois’ Drinking Water SRF SFY 2027 Public Water Supply Loan Program Draft Intended Use Plan

waterpublic comments
Written By Danielle Goshen

At EPIC, we are conducting a review of several states’ Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs. Through this process, we have gained a deeper understanding of how these programs are administered and how the presentation of information in state IUPs can be enhanced. While analyzing Illinois’s DWSRF program for our DWSRF Funding Tracker project, we’ve noted the following points about the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) administration of its DWSRF funds. Our intention is to support Illinois in its efforts to make its IUPs even more user-friendly and informative and to adopt policies to direct funds where they are needed most and on a more timely basis.

Summary of EPIC’s Recommendations:

  1. Post the email address for public comments within the Draft IUP

  2. Consider several policy changes to help reduce carryover funds

  3. Continue to direct leveraged funds to reduce the gap between funds available for projects and program demand

  4. Make more strategic use of set-asides

  5. Improve program transparency by providing clear information on SRF policy decisions discussed in the IUP

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Danielle Goshen

Danielle is the Senior Water Infrastructure Policy Analyst at EPIC. Prior to joining EPIC in 2024, Danielle worked on National Wildlife Federation's Texas Coast and Water Program as their Policy Specialist/Counsel where she collaborated with government, industry, and NGO stakeholders to improve water policy across Texas. Prior to her work at NWF, Danielle was the Water Policy Specialist at Galveston Bay Foundation. She attended the University of Toronto for her Honours Bachelor's degrees in Environmental Geography and Environmental Studies, with a minor in Geographic Information Studies. Danielle later earned her J.D. at the University of Georgia School of Law, where she was president of the Environmental Law Association. During her time at Georgia Law, Danielle interned at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 4 office and served as a Georgia Sea Grant Legal Fellow working on coastal resiliency policy.

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