The City of Carterville was required by the Illinois EPA to extensively renovate the existing wastewater treatment plant or build a new one. The renovations would have cost $31M with a possibility of $3M in loan forgiveness and the construction of a new facility was $44M with over $13M in loan forgiveness. Considering the existing plant is 40 years old, the Water & Sewer Board and City Council chose to move towards the new facility.
As a condition of the financing from Illinois EPA, they require the City charge rates they feel will adequately maintain the system and pay the IEPA loan payments. The IEPA required a sewer rate increase but allowed the City of Carterville to implement this increase in phases over the next three years.
The first year’s increase is reflected on the August 2026 water and sewer bills. The increase changes the base rate for sewer to $22.00 per month. This is an $11.00 per month increase from the previous billing year.
If you have any questions about your bill or the project, please feel free to contact the Carterville Water & Sewer Department.