Published on November 5, 2026 9:55 am
Last Updated on November 5, 2026 9:55 am
State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) joined Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15) and State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) at the groundbreaking and announcement of $4.5 million in federal funding to support the expansion of EJ Water Cooperative’s Delbert Mundt Water Treatment Plant in Altamont. The investment will double the facility’s treatment capacity, strengthening access to reliable water service for families, farmers, and businesses across seven Central Illinois counties: Shelby, Effingham, Montgomery, Fayette, Cumberland, Christian, and Clay.
“Just like the Mahomet Aquifer here in Central Illinois, this water treatment plant is critical for supplying clean water in support of our families, farms, hospitals, businesses, schools and much more,” commented Niemerg. “Thank you to Congresswoman Mary Miller for all of her work to secure this investment in expanding our water supply for the region.”
As demand continues to increase, EJ Water has expanded its infrastructure to support rural communities, including the construction of a 250-million-gallon reservoir in 2023. The cooperative also works with smaller municipalities facing aging or inadequate water treatment facilities, helping provide dependable, affordable water service to underserved communities throughout Central Illinois.
Founded in 1989, EJ Water Cooperative is the largest rural water cooperative in Illinois, serving a rural population of more than 48,000 residents. The Delbert Mundt Water Treatment Plant was constructed in 2010 near Beecher City and serves EJ Water’s fastest-growing western service area.
Congresswoman Miller pointed out that the investment will meet growing demand and strengthen the essential infrastructure that families and businesses across our rural communities will depend on for generations to come.
