|
Health Department recognizes
National Groundwater Awareness
[March 22, 2025]
National Groundwater Awareness Week was
recently recognized from March 9-15, so The Logan County Department
of Public Health (LCDPH) would like to remind everyone to do their
part to ensure the water they drink is safe. Whether your water is
supplied by your own private well or you are connected to a city
supply, all the drinking water in Logan County comes from
groundwater. The National Groundwater Association (NGWA) has
determined that 44 percent of the U.S. population depends on
groundwater for its drinking water supply.
If you rely on your own private well, it is suggested to have your
water tested for drinking
safety at least once a year. There is no guarantee that your water
will test satisfactorily as groundwater, a well, its components, and
a treatment system, if present, can be a source of
contamination. Proper construction of a well and water system,
including maintenance, is
essential as is protecting the groundwater source. Drinking water
test kits for analysis at
the Illinois Department of Public Health laboratory are available
for purchase at LCDPH at a cost of $8.00. If your water
results are unsatisfactory, LCDPH will provide instructions for
disinfecting your well.
If your well is no longer in use, eliminate it by having it properly
sealed. This is required by
State law as abandoned wells can potentially contaminate
groundwater. Illinois licensed well
drillers can seal an abandoned well, or a property owner, provided
the owner completes and submits to LCDPH a Request for Water Well
Sealing Approval by a Property Owner Form (available on the LCDPH
website) prior to sealing the well. LCDPH will review the permit
application and grant approval before sealing can be conducted.
NOTE: There is no charge for
the sealing permit and inspection.
[to top of second column]
|
Much of the northern half of
Logan County obtains its drinking water from the Mahomet
Aquifer. According to the Illinois State Water Survey, arsenic
has been found at
levels exceeding the maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per
billion (ppb) throughout much of
the Mahomet Aquifer. Arsenic is a contaminant that is a
naturally occurring element located in
the earth’s crust. Arsenic can be found in deep bedrock and,
once it dissolves naturally, it can
find its way to groundwater. Arsenic is highly toxic and, in
drinking water, has been linked to
various cancers and other ailments. Please contact LCDPH for a
list of laboratories available to test for arsenic or
other contaminants. A map of the Mahomet Aquifer can be found on
the LCDPH website environmental health potable water page.
Finally, it is important to ensure that contamination sources,
such as septic systems,
chemical storage areas, animal confinement lots, etc. are
located far enough from water wells
and other water sources to protect groundwater and drinking
water from potential contamination. For more information
regarding your well and groundwater protection, you can visit
the LCDPH website at WWW.LCDPH.ORG. There you will find
the Illinois Water Well Construction Code which contains a list
of required minimum setback distances for contaminants from
water
wells. You can also contact the health department at
217-735-2317 for further details.
[Text received from Don Cavi, MS, LEHP]
 |
