A Critical Community Resource for Clean Water
The Mahomet Aquifer is the primary source of drinking water for municipalities and homeowners in 14 Illinois Counties. It is the sole source of water for residents of the Cities of Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy, as well as other central Illinois communities. The aquifer provides drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people. The aquifer also supports thousands of commercial, industrial, and agricultural water users. The City believes that preserving this source of clean water that is vital to all of our residents, as well as to agriculture and industry, is in the best interest of the community. To that end, the City has partnered with other communities and affected parties including Champaign County; the cities of Urbana, Delavan, and Gilman; the Town of Normal; the Villages of Savoy, Mahomet, and Mansfield; and the University of Illinois to protect this vital resource. This group submitted an application to the U.S. EPA on December 12, 2012, to have the Aquifer designated a Sole Source Aquifer (SSA).
Why Support U.S. EPA Sole Source Designation for the Mahomet Aquifer?
The Mahomet Aquifer is a vital source of water for central Illinois, providing the primary source of clean water to residents of 14 Illinois Counties. The Aquifer is vulnerable to contamination and needs to be preserved for future generations. SSA designation can provide additional federal protection of the Aquifer. Protecting the aquifer also supports agriculture and industry. Please review the attached “fact sheet” for more information.
Why support U.S. EPA sole source designation for the Mahomet Aquifer?
Layne Hydro Report – Phase 1: Determining the Mahomet Aquifer’s Eligibility for Sole Source Designation
The City and other partners contracted with Layne Hydro to prepare a report on the Mahomet Aquifer’s eligibility for sole source designation.
- Lanye Christensen Phase 1 Report- Determining Aquifer Eligibility
- Layne Christensen Phase 1 Presentation
Layne Hydro Report- Phase 2: Petition to Designate the Mahomet Aquifer as a Sole Source Aquifer
On December 12, 2012, a coalition of agencies submitted their application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) for sole source designation for the Mahomet Aquifer. The Mahomet Aquifer provides nearly 100% of the drinking water for this region and supports thousands of commercial, industrial, and agricultural water users. Review of this petition by the Region 5 office of the U.S. EPA is expected to take at least six months. During the review process, the coalition will continue to solicit public input and provide additional information to the U.S. EPA.
Petition for Mahomet Aquifer Sole Source Designation
Some of the large files including maps are not available if you would like an electronic copy of these please send an email to Angela Adams- angela.adams@ci.champaign.il.us or call 217.403.4780.
More Information on U.S. EPA Sole Source Aquifer Designation
Please see the Q & A for details on sole source designation including answers to the following questions -
- Why is the Mahomet Aquifer important and why should it be designated as a “sole source aquifer?”
- What is a sole source aquifer?
- How many communities consider the Mahomet Aquifer their sole source of water?
- Can the public participate in the U.S. EPA’s designation process?
- What happens after an aquifer is designated?
Complaint Filed with Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB)
On November 9, 2012, the City, on behalf of a coalition of local government agencies and the Mahomet Valley Water Authority, filed a Complaint with the IPCB seeking to have the IPCB order the Clinton Landfill to cease operation of a chemical waste unit until the required local siting review process has been completed. The City believes the required review was never conducted, and therefore, the chemical waste unit is not properly permitted. Click here to view the full Complaint.
To check the status of the Complaint, view the IPCB website.
For questions regarding the Complaint, please call the Legal Department 217.403.8765.
