Shallow groundwater quality sampling in Kane County, October 2003

Author information found in last paragraph of p. [4].Includes bibliographical references (p. [4])

Shallow Groundwater Sampling in Kane County, 2015

In October 2003, scientists from the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) sampled 75 shallow wells for water -quality analysis in Kane County to provide a “snapshot” of groundwater quality in these shallow aquifers, and to compare water quality from different pa rts and aquifers of Kane County. In the fall of 2015, the study was repeated to assess how groundwater quality had changed since 2003. Sixty -eight wells were sampled in 2015, 55 of which had been sampled in 2003. The quality of shallow groundwater in Kane County is generally good, especially in the western and central thirds of the county. However, the total dissolved solids (TDS) values of samples from the eastern third of the county were significantly higher than elsewhere in the county; chloride was the ion of greatest concern. Two- thirds of the samples from the eastern wells sampled had TDS and/or chloride concentrations above their drinking water standards. Road- salt runoff is most likely the major source of elevated TDS and chloride. Of the wells samp led in both 2003 and 2015, about 60 percent had higher TDS values in 2015, with three having increases greater than 100 mg/L. The average increase for the wells with increasing TDS values was 50 mg/L. The increase in TDS is entirely explained by increases in chloride and sodium concentrations, which increased in 78 percent and 59 percent of the wells, respectively. The average increase for wells with increasing values was 25.4 mg/L for chloride and 19.2 mg/L for sodium. The average rate of increase in chlor ide concentrations in the urban eastern third of Kane County was 3.9 mg/L/yr, which is similar to rates found in other studies in northeastern Illinois.published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

Effects of Various Soil Amendments on Subsurface Water Quality at the ISU Farm

Starting in 2003, a series of field studies were conducted in conjunction with researchers from Illinois State University (ISU) at the ISU Farm north of Lexington, IL. Three sites for monitoring subsurface water quality beneath row crops receiving various soil amendments were established at or near the ISU Farm. The first site was a series of small experimental plots located on the northern edge of farm property just west of road 2550E, which were amended with various fertilizers, including compost (at two application rates), swine manure slurry, separated swine manure effluent, and synthetic fertilizer (urea). A zero-rate control plot was also initiated. The swine that produced the manure used in these studies were dosed with chlortetracycline prior to the 2004 applications and for every year afterward. A common practice in the livestock industry is to provide sub-therapeutic doses of antibiotics to prevent disease outbreaks and increase growth rates (Mason et al., 2009). Tetracyclines are one of the most commonly used families of antibiotics for these purposes. The second site covered a larger area of privately owned fields to the north of the ISU Farm, which were amended with materials from the farm. Amendments included compost, manure slurry, and separated swine manure effluent. The third site was located on the northern section of ISU Farm property to the east of road 2550E. Narrowly spaced tile drains were installed at this site for the application of separated effluent via subsurface irrigation. The goal of all studies was to determine if the various soil amendments were affecting subsurface water quality. Monitoring wells were installed in up-gradient and down-gradient locations to monitor changes in shallow groundwater quality. Lysimeters were installed at the first and third sites beneath fields where various soil amendments were applied, as well as at a control location at site one. A summary of soil amendment and monitoring activities for all three sites is shown in Table 1. In addition to the field studies, a series of flow-through soil column experiments were conducted to help understand nitrogen dynamics, especially changes in nitrate isotopes.Ope

Surface Water and Groundwater Supply Planning and Data Resources in Illinois

Presentation covering status of regional water supply planning work in the State of Illinois.Ope

Lead in Homes with Domestic Wells in Illinois

Poster created for display in the lobby of the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.Ope

Water Supply Planning: Middle Illinois Progress Report

This report presents a summary of 1) the technical information assembled to describe existing water availability and sources of supply within the 7-county (LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, and Woodford Counties) Middle Illinois River Region in central Illinois (Figures 1 and 2) and 2) the development of preliminary computer models that will be used in future studies to estimate impacts to water availability resulting from future water development in the region. Through funding by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) and Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) prepared this document for the Middle Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Committee (MIRWSPC) to aid in the development of a plan for meeting the future growth of water supply demands within the basin to the year 2060. It contains background information to provide an overview of management criteria and an understanding of the constraints and policies used in conducting analyses and making decisions concerning water usage. Models will be applied to a broad range of conditions, including a set of selected future water use scenarios to more fully characterize water availability within the Middle Illinois River Region to the year 2060. In addition, as the MIRWSPC deliberates and prepares its water supply planning document, the information presented in this report will be reviewed and, in some cases, additional analysis may be performed and results revised. A more complete reporting of the model development, the results of the scenario simulations, and subsequent work concerning water availability will be published at the end of that forthcoming study. The existing technical information compiled as the first task of this study includes a review of previous analyses and publications dealing with the Middle Illinois River Region’s water resources; collection of hydrogeological and hydrologic data, primarily as needed for modeling; and, in certain cases, additional analyses of that data, such as data mining of well records and yield analyses of surface water supply sources. This compiled information focuses on the three primary sources of water supply within the Middle Illinois River watershed: 1) direct withdrawals from the Illinois River; 2) public supply systems using the Vermilion River and off-channel reservoirs at Pontiac and Streator; and 3) groundwater from within the Middle Illinois River basin. A companion report has been published (Meyer et al., In preparation) evaluating water demand scenarios out to 2060 for the Middle Illinois River, Northwest Illinois, and Kankakee River Regions.published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

Coal Ash Response Team final report

Like other states throughout the nation, Illinois is working toward solutions that reduce negative impacts from surface impoundments of coal combustion residuals (CCR, often called coal ash), which are byproducts of burning coal to generate electricity. Coal ash contains elements present in coal, including arsenic, boron, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, lithium, manganese, molybdenum, radium, selenium, sulfur, and thallium. These elements can persist and accumulate in the environment and be associated with negative health impacts. The Executive Director of the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) established the Coal Ash Response Team (CART) in part to assess coal ash related information that was available from the Illinois scientific surveys. This report provides an overview of knowledge and information within PRI about coal ash issues. Efforts by the CART are intended to be of value to all stakeholders (e.g., the public, Illinois EPA, site operators, governmental and nongovernmental organizations, research institutions). This report includes information about potential impacts of coal ash impoundments, a review of federal and state laws and regulations, and an overview of how coal ash can be beneficially used.Ope

An Introductory Guide to the Mahomet Aquifer and Natural Gas Storage in East-Central Illinois

This introductory guide was developedby the NGWG in coordination with colleagues across PRI to provide basic information about the Mahomet aquifer and natural gas storage in east-central Illinois. PRI is available to the task force as a technical resourceand can draw on the expertise of PRIscientists and programs to help the task force meet its goals. PRI can also help identify additional data, reports, activities, or assessments that may be relevant to the task force. Requests for reports, presentations, and interactions are welcomed and can be prioritized based on needs of the task force and PRI.Ope

Fate of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products in Irrigated Wastewater Effluent

The potential human and environmental health risks posed by pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have been identified as a research priority at both the federal and state level. It has been well documented that municipal wastewater treatment plants with surface discharge fail to remove many of these emerging contaminants; however, little research has been conducted to determine the capability of lagoon treatment systems to remove PPCPs or of organic-matter-rich clay loam soils to filter PPCPs and reduce surface water pollution. The objective of this study was to determine the fate and transport of selected pharmaceuticals in lagoon-treated wastewater effluent applied as cropland irrigation in Illinois. In this study, we were able to determine the presence of six of the seven priority PPCPs in lagoon-treated wastewater effluent; verify the absence of studied PPCPs in soil and well water prior to treatment; determine characteristics of cropland soil that may impact PPCP transport when wastewater irrigation begins; and conduct sorption isotherm studies to understand the sorption and desorption capabilities of field soils in Lexington, Illinois.Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Grant Number HWR12223Ope