Published: October 29, 2009 09:55 pm      

Help plan area’s water useage

Editor:

Danville uses almost 8 million gallons of water each day in homes and for commerce, industry, recreation and agriculture. The whole of Vermillion County uses about 16 million gallons of water each day. More water will be needed in the future.

Danville obtains its water from Lake Vermilion, which, like all reservoirs, is losing water storage capacity due to sedimentation.

Other communities and industries in Vermilion County and other counties in east central Illinois withdraw water from the Mahomet Aquifer. The aquifer is a thick layer of sand and gravel some 200 feet below the surface filling an old bedrock valley extending from the Indiana border across to the Illinois River. Groundwater is stored under pressure in pore spaces between sand grains.

Near the center of pumping in Champaign County, the elevations of water levels in wells have decreased by up to 100 feet since the 1930s.

In June, a Regional Water Supply Planning Committee issued a report that is a product of a three-year pilot study. The pilot study

was organized by the Mahomet Aquifer Consortium through a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The MAC is a grass-roots committee representing diverse interest groups in Vermilion County and 14 other counties. The report examines water demand and water supply information to 2050 and develops a regional plan with recommendations.

The RWSPC calls for all communities and industries to share the management of water resources and protect the environment. It is recommended the MAC take the lead in implementing a permanent regional water supply planning process. I invite you to become a member of the MAC and help shape your future.

Reports and contact information are available at http://www.rwspc.org/.

Steve Wegman

Regional Water Supply Planning Committee member

Champaign