2022 National Groundwater Awareness Week March 6-12th

[March 10, 2022]  The Logan County Department of Public Health (LCDPH) would like to recognize March 6-12, 2022, as National Groundwater Awareness Week. Regardless of the source, if from a well or city supply, all the drinking water in Logan County comes from groundwater.

The National Groundwater Association (NGWA) recently determined that 44 percent of the U.S. population depends on groundwater for its drinking water supply. Groundwater is vital to everyday life, and it is important to keep it safe and protected.

If your everyday water source is from a private well, it is recommended to have your water analyzed at least once a year since wells have the potential to become contaminated at any time. At LCDPH, you can purchase a water collection kit at a cost of $8 to sample your water well for testing at a state laboratory for the presence of coliform bacteria and E. coli. If your well is contaminated, LCDPH will provide instructions for how to disinfect the well. If you would like to test your well for contaminants such as nitrates and other chemicals/pesticides, LCDPH can provide you with contact information for private laboratories which perform the tests.

If you have a water well that is no longer in use, Illinois law requires wells be sealed within 30 days of abandonment in such a manner which is compliant with the state code. Abandoned wells can provide a direct route of contamination to the aquifer (underground water source) which is the primary reason the law was enacted. Wells must be sealed by either an Illinois licensed well driller or by the well owner.  If a well owner chooses to seal their well, he/she must first complete and submit to LCDPH a sealing request form to be granted permission. This form is available on the health department website.

In the northern section of Logan County, the Mahomet Aquifer is a source of drinking water for many residents. According to the Illinois State Water Survey, arsenic (As) has been found at levels exceeding the maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per billion 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 has been linked to various cancers and other ailments. If you rely on the Mahomet Aquifer as your source for drinking water, in addition to routine bacterial sampling, it is recommended you have your well tested for arsenic.

For a map of the aquifer location and a list of laboratories available to test for chemicals including arsenic, you can contact LCDPH at 217-735-2317 or you can go to their website at WWW.LCDPH.ORG to learn more about your well, preventing contamination and the dangers of arsenic.

[Don Cavi, MS, LEHP
Public Health Administrator
Logan County Department of Public Health]