Clean Water
Policy-driven Water Protection in Illinois
IEC is committed to advancing smart, equitable water policies with the Great Lakes as our guiding focus. From defending Lake Michigan against invasive species and plastic pollution to ensuring safe, lead-free drinking water in every home, IEC works to safeguard the waters that define our state.
IEC's Clean Water Vision
Through issue education, policy advocacy, and coalition-building, we’re working to ensure Illinoisans have access to safe, clean and reliable water; that communities are protected from pollution and climate impacts; and that decision-makers prioritize sustainable, equitable water policies that protect both people and ecosystems with the Great Lakes at the center.
We’re working to:
Replace Lead Service Lines
Safe drinking water doesn’t start at the tap. Many Illinois communities still rely on aging lead service lines, putting children and families at risk. IEC is leading efforts to accelerate full replacement with state and federal funding so every Illinoisan can drink clean, lead-free water.
Reduce Pollution in Our Water Systems
Microplastics, PFAS, and other chemicals are increasingly found in our rivers, lakes and even drinking water. These contaminants pose serious public health and environmental risks. IEC is working to reduce pollution at the source, advance regulations, and support filtration solutions to keep toxins out of our waterways, out of aquatic life, and out of our bodies.
Protect Our Great Lakes and Aquifers
The Great Lakes and aquifers are critical sources of drinking water. Rising demands from data center proliferation and other industries threaten this vital resource. We’re committed to finding solutions that safeguard our drinking water.
Increase Water Affordability
Water and sewer services are essential utilities that continue to rise in cost. Aging, inefficient water and sewer infrastructure and shrinking federal dollars have resulted in water utilities pushing operating and maintenance costs onto ratepayers. IEC advocates to end water shutoffs, create new statewide water infrastructure funding, and establish bill relief programs for low income communities.
Illinois Clean Water Policies
Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act
Passed in 2010, this Illinois law prohibits landscapers from applying fertilizer containing phosphorus to a lawn, except where the soil is lacking in phosphorus when compared against a standard established by the University of Illinois.
The law also restricts the ability of a landscaper to apply fertilizer on impervious surfaces, near bodies of water (3 to 15 feet away), or when a lawn is frozen or saturated. The law exempts agriculture, commercial or sod farms, gardening, and golf courses.
Microbeads Ban
This Act prohibits the production, manufacture, distribution and sale in Illinois of any personal care product containing plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size. When consumers use personal care products such as facial scrubs and toothpaste containing microbeads, the beads are rinsed down the drain and into our sewer systems. Because of their small size and buoyancy, microbeads escape treatment by sewage plants and are discharged into rivers, lakes and oceans. These microbeads then absorb toxic chemicals which can be eaten by fish and wildlife.
Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act
Prior to federal action, Illinois took major strides in 2021 to require municipalities and private water utilities to develop and execute a plan that inventories, removes and replaces all lead service lines while prioritizing replacement in high-priority environmental justice areas and lead-burdened communities.
Mahomet CCS Ban
In 2023, Illinois passed nation-leading legislation to regulate Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS), but the Mahomet Aquifer, which supplies clean water to nearly one million people throughout Central Illinois, was originally left unprotected. This 2025 bill extended that legislation to protect the sole-source aquifer and public drinking water from proposed carbon injection well projects.
PFAS Product Ban
As advocates continue to expose the harmful impacts of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals” on human health, the Illinois legislature regularly responds to this growing body of science. In 2025, Illinois passed groundbreaking legislation in the country to ban the use of deliberately added PFAS in the manufacturing of children’s products, cosmetics, intimate apparel such as sleepwear or underwear, menstrual products, and dental floss.
EPA Wastewater Industry Use
With growing concerns about large industries like data centers tapping into drinking water supplies, legislators passed a bill in 2025 to encourage water reuse. Treated municipal wastewater could now be used for both irrigation and industrial purposes, as long as it’s done under a permit.
Water Team Highlight
Friends of the Chicago River and Alder River Tour
IECEF joined Friends of the Chicago River and Alderpersons Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and Andre Vasquez for a paddle along the North Branch of the Chicago River. Once reversed to protect Lake Michigan from pollution, the river now stands as a testament to decades of restoration and conservation work. Thanks to the efforts of our affiliate members like Friends of the Chicago River, the waterway has seen a remarkable return of wildlife and continues to provide vital environmental, economic, and social benefits to our city.
Clean Water Resources
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Water and Environmental Justice
Coming soon.
IEC's Clean Water Experts
Jen Walling
Chief Executive Officer
Iyana Simba
City Government Affairs Director
Sam Bower
Policy Manager