SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has announced grants totaling $515,500 to help unsewered communities lacking wastewater collection and treatment systems.

The community of Williamson will receive a $30,000 Illinois EPA planning grant.

“It is unconscionable that — in the year 2022 — there are still underserved neighborhoods throughout our state without access to up-to-date wastewater collection and treatment systems," said Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Communities are considered “unsewered” if they lack wastewater collection and/or treatment systems. Many have patchwork systems or decades-old underground "wildcat" pipes that illegally discharge to surface waters.

The Unsewered Communities Planning Grant Program provides communities an opportunity to obtain funding to develop a Project Plan that will address problems with the collection and treatment of wastewater.