Environmental Progress - Spring 1998

Groundwater Foundation Honors Agency Efforts

Award recognizes growing efforts to protect vital groundwater resources.

The Illinois EPA and four local partnerships were designated Groundwater Guardian Affiliates by the Groundwater Foundation for their source water protection efforts, during the Foundation’s annual meeting in Oak Brook on Nov. 24. Among the Agency’s accomplishments to earn the recognition was the recruiting of 10 Illinois communities into the Groundwater Guardian program during 1997.

The Foundation is a private group based in Lincoln, Neb., that was formed in 1984 to promote nationwide public awareness of groundwater issues. In 1993, the Foundation inaugurated the community-based Groundwater Guardian program that recognizes, supports and connects communities taking local groundwater protection action. In 1995, Pekin became the first Illinois community to earn the Groundwater Guardian designation and received additional recognition in 1996 and 1997.

Groundwater Guardian communities recruited into the program in 1997 include Bethalto, a village with a population of 9,500 that provides water to 17,500 users and relies totally on groundwater; St. Charles, a community of 25,500 which gets 80 percent of its water from groundwater sources; Rock Falls, a community of 9,700 using all groundwater; Marengo, located in areas of industrial activity growth; and Newton, a small community relying on four shallow wells in a sand and gravel aquifer in an agricultural area.

McHenry, Boone and Winnebago counties, McDonough county, Jasper County, and the North Park Public Water District also received recognition during the conference for their efforts to protect and improve their groundwater resources.

The Groundwater Guardian Affiliates program was new in 1997. It enables organizations and agencies like the Illinois EPA to receive recognition for their support for, and partnerships with, local source water protection efforts. The 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act mandates increased emphasis on these protection programs.