New Carterville Wastewater Facility Project Inches Forward

After years of chronic sewage overflows and strained infrastructure, Carterville, Illinois, is moving forward with long-awaited improvements to its wastewater and water systems. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency approved the city for a $31 million federal loan to help fund a new wastewater treatment plant, which will serve over 6,000 residents and nearby communities Cambria, Colp, and Crainville. Carterville’s population has doubled since 1990, and its aging infrastructure has struggled to keep up — with over 40 overflow incidents in the past decade, primarily caused by heavy rainfall and system overloads.

Despite committing to the project five years ago, the city only began soliciting construction bids in spring 2025. Carterville cannot access loan funds until it finalizes a rate ordinance, delaying progress further. Complicating matters, project costs have risen to $44 million, and residents could see their water bills quadruple by 2028, even with $13 million in loan forgiveness. The Illinois EPA may also limit new construction until the new plant is operational, reducing the city’s ability to offset costs with tax revenue from growth.

Carterville’s situation reflects broader water infrastructure issues across Illinois. The American Society of Civil Engineers graded the state’s wastewater infrastructure a “C-” and drinking/stormwater systems “D+,” indicating significant deficiencies and risks of failure.