Shining Stars In Groundwater Protection
Announced in Springfield today were the winners of the prestigious Shining Star Groundwater Protection Awards.
Winners for the year 2000 are Lockport Township, The City of Carmi, and the City of Crystal Lake. These annual
awards are made to local units of government for outstanding leadership in protecting groundwater, Illinois’ vital, but
invisible natural resource. The selection, made by professionals from government and the water industry, is based on
completed groundwater projects. This awards program is part of the Illinois Groundwater Education Program which
coordinates the participation of 12 agencies, over 30 associations and hundreds of volunteers in groundwater
protection activities.
Lockport Township was sited for its work in sealing abandoned wells. They applied for and secured 2 Community
Development Block Grants through the Will County Community Development Department and the US Dept. of Housing
and Urban Development. The funding paid for a licensed Water Well Contractor to seal 160 abandoned wells at no cost
to the Landowners. The wells were abandoned in the 1970’s when 2 large community wells were drilled to serve as the
source of water for Lockport Township, which currently serves about 900 customers. The work was a collaborative
effort of the home owners, the Township Government, the Will County Health Department and M & C Well & Pump, Inc.
According Marty Craven of M & C, “The project would not have been successful without the understanding and support
of all parties.” Craven found the best way to locate old wells was to talk with long term residents of the neighborhood.
Since he was providing a service, not enforcing law, neighbors help find over a hundred wells, many which were hidden.
Judy Batusich, Township Supervisor, said, “Because homeowners were willing to seal their abandoned wells, it made
the effort easier, and the success with the first round improved our ability to get the second grant.”
Each well was inspected and photographed prior to sealing, according to Brian Scanlon of the Will County Health
Department, who recognized Craven for outstanding documentation of the project. Scanlon or a Health Department
Inspector checked each well, and Scanlon was astonished at some of the hidden well locations, such as in drive ways
or under stair ways. “Without the full cooperation of the Landowners, many of these long abandoned wells would still be
there, posing an enormous threat to the community wells,” he said.
In addition to the physical dangers to humans and animals, abandoned wells pose an enormous threat to groundwater
since they provide a pathway for contamination to by pass the filtering effects of the soil, and reach the underground
aquifers. State wide estimates of the number of abandoned wells reach into the hundreds of thousands, but only 2000
are sealed each year. A Coalition of more than 30 associates and agencies is promoting educational and incentive
programs to increase this rate. Lockport Township is seeking additional funds to continue sealing more wells and to
implement other groundwater protection measures.
Harry Hendrickson
IL. Department of Natural Resources
hhendrickson@dnrmail.state.il.us
217-785-8577
October 7, 2000
Announced in Springfield today were the winners of the prestigious Shining Star Groundwater Protection Awards.
Winners for the year 2000 are Lockport Township, The City of Carmi, and the City of Crystal Lake. These annual
awards are made to local units of government for outstanding leadership in protecting groundwater, Illinois’ vital, but
invisible natural resource. The selection, made by professionals from government and the water industry, is based on
completed groundwater projects. This awards program is part of the Illinois Groundwater Education Program which
coordinates the participation of 12 agencies, over 30 associations and hundreds of volunteers in groundwater
protection activities.
Lockport Township was sited for its work in sealing abandoned wells. They applied for and secured 2 Community
Development Block Grants through the Will County Community Development Department and the US Dept. of Housing
and Urban Development. The funding paid for a licensed Water Well Contractor to seal 160 abandoned wells at no cost
to the Landowners. The wells were abandoned in the 1970’s when 2 large community wells were drilled to serve as the
source of water for Lockport Township, which currently serves about 900 customers. The work was a collaborative
effort of the home owners, the Township Government, the Will County Health Department and M & C Well & Pump, Inc.
According Marty Craven of M & C, “The project would not have been successful without the understanding and support
of all parties.” Craven found the best way to locate old wells was to talk with long term residents of the neighborhood.
Since he was providing a service, not enforcing law, neighbors help find over a hundred wells, many which were hidden.
Judy Batusich, Township Supervisor, said, “Because homeowners were willing to seal their abandoned wells, it made
the effort easier, and the success with the first round improved our ability to get the second grant.”
Each well was inspected and photographed prior to sealing, according to Brian Scanlon of the Will County Health
Department, who recognized Craven for outstanding documentation of the project. Scanlon or a Health Department
Inspector checked each well, and Scanlon was astonished at some of the hidden well locations, such as in drive ways
or under stair ways. “Without the full cooperation of the Landowners, many of these long abandoned wells would still be
there, posing an enormous threat to the community wells,” he said.
In addition to the physical dangers to humans and animals, abandoned wells pose an enormous threat to groundwater
since they provide a pathway for contamination to by pass the filtering effects of the soil, and reach the underground
aquifers. State wide estimates of the number of abandoned wells reach into the hundreds of thousands, but only 2000
are sealed each year. A Coalition of more than 30 associates and agencies is promoting educational and incentive
programs to increase this rate. Lockport Township is seeking additional funds to continue sealing more wells and to
implement other groundwater protection measures.
Harry Hendrickson
IL. Department of Natural Resources
hhendrickson@dnrmail.state.il.us
217-785-8577
October 7, 2000
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