
				Pat Quinn, Governor

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Environmental Progress - Autumn 1996

Pekin’s Groundwater Protection Plans Win Governor's Hometown Award

Tazewell County Community Earns Governor's Home Town Award

Pekin, Ill., continues to win recognition for its pro-active efforts to protect the abundant groundwater that provides its drinking water and supplies water for its industries. Last spring, the Tazewell County community was picked to receive one of the Governor's Home Town Awards, presented by Gov. Jim Edgar.

With seven shallow wells located in vulnerable sandy soil, the community was a prime potential target for contamination of its groundwater. A few years ago, community leaders decided that protecting their drinking water sources before problems occurred made more sense then having to correct problems after the fact. Working with the groundwater section in the Illinois EPA's bureau of water, Pekin undertook a groundwater needs assessment. When that pilot program confirmed there was a potential for water supply problems, the community created a 10 member education committee to explain the need, and win the support of local residents and businesses in establishing a recharge area protection program for their wells.

In 1995, Pekin, Ill. was designated Illinois' first National Groundwater Guardian Community

In late 1995, the Groundwater Foundation designated Pekin a national Groundwater Guardian Community, the only Illinois community to date to win this recognition. The Foundation is a private group formed in 1984 to promote public awareness of groundwater issues nationally. The Governor's Home Town Awards recognize grass roots volunteer efforts to establish, promote or protect characteristics and services that make their communities unique.