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.
- The Illinois EPA provides a website which lists environmentally related job openings at EPA locations throughout Illinois.
- 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.
The Recovery Act contains funding in the following target areas:
• Helping workers and people hurt by the economy
• Tax cuts for individuals and businesses to make work pay and create jobs
• Expanding access to capital
• Clean, efficient energy and the environment
• Infrastructure projects and modernizing roads, bridges, transit and waterways
• Education for the 21st Century
• Increasing access to broadband
• Transforming our economy with science and technology
• Health information technology and lowering healthcare costs
• Saving public sector jobs, protecting vital services and providing State fiscal relief
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Economic Recovery Information website is designed to help educate the public about features of the economic recovery bill that are consistent with the mission of DCEO.
- Follow this link if you are a worker seeking training and job placement assistance.
- Follow this link if you are a private, non-profit organization seeking homeless prevention funding and support services, as provided for in the Emergency Shelter Grant.
- Follow this link if you are a community action agency seeking information on Community Service Block Grant stimulus funding.
On the Illinois workNet Economic Recovery page, you can get additional information about:
- Local Contacts for WIA (Workforce Investment Act) Economic Recovery Programs
- The State of Illinois’ measures for transparency and accountability.
- Federal Business Opportunities
- A User’s Guide to the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
To learn more go to: http://www2.illinoisbiz.biz/econ/default.htm