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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
| AWARDS |