$257 Million in EPA Funds have been Allocated to Upgrade Illinois Water Supplies and Environmental Infrastructure.
Expect to see more job postings appear in the near future in the areas of science, construction, and engineering to meet the needs of “shovel ready” projects funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
In the hurly-burly to accumulate portfolios and build Mc’ Mansions, some communities in the United States fell behind in providing necessities such as potable water and sufficient wastewater management. In some other communities, prosperity took the by-pass and drinking water is what comes off the roof or out of a polluted reservoir.
The demand for water in Illinois and most other states will continue to increase.
In February of this year, an article in TheSouthern.com 
quoted a water expert who urged citizens not to take water supplies for granted. A 2006 DNR water supply study showed that water demands in Illinois are to increase from 36 to 69 percent, while supplies are predicted to grow at a much slower rate.
The Illinois State Water Survey lists nitrates, sulfur, coliform bacteria, lead, pesticides, and arsenic as the most common water pollutants. Recently, water supply experts have added pharmaceuticals to the list of drinking water pollutants .
In response to both water management concerns and to the faltering economy, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 committed approximately $257 million to the Water Pollution Control Loan Program and the Public Water Supply Loan Program . Four Illinois communities are recipients of grants and loans which will enable them to immediately begin waste and drinking water projects. The communities are Pecatonica, Rockford, Dixon, and LaMoille. It is expected that other communities will receive similar loans and grants in the near future.
The ARRA environmental infrastructure projects in Illinois and elsewhere will require the work of geologists, environmental engineers and scientists, construction workers, large equipment operators, plumbers, electricians, naturalists, civil engineers, chemists, biologists, water supply engineers, and support staff. It is hoped that jobs in these areas will be created immediately.
Where to find jobs created by ARRA water infrastructure projects:
- Career Jet provides postings for Illinois infrastructure jobs.
- Jobs.com
lists many nationwide job openings in the field of wastewater management.
- JuJu provides a search engine for water supply related jobs.
- Recovery.org tracks all ARRA projects throughout Illinois and the rest of the country, which will help you find where jobs may be available.