Illinois Senate shows overwhelming support for protecting the Mahomet Aquifer

SPRINGFIELD, IL–The Mahomet Aquifer provides drinking water to nearly 1 million people across Central Illinois. More than 100 communities and rural homeowners in 14 Illinois counties rely on this aquifer for fresh drinking water.  It is threatened by companies that want to inject carbon dioxide through and store it under the aquifer.

The Aquifer's 2015 designation as a sole source aquifer by the EPA in 2015 means that “contamination of the aquifer would create a significant hazard to public health and there are no physically available or economically feasible alternative sources of drinking water to serve the population that relies on the aquifer.” That's why Eco-Justice Collaborative and Prairie Rivers Network have been working with Senator Paul Faraci and Representative Carol Ammons to protect the Mahomet with a legislative ban. Representative Ammons will bring SB 1723 to the House in the next few weeks.

In response to the Illinois Senate advancing protections for the Mahomet Aquifer on the Senate floor with an amended SB 1723, Prairie Rivers Network and Eco-Justice Collaborative issue the following statements:

"Today, thanks to the efforts of Senator Faraci and grassroots organizations, the Senate passed a bill that would protect the Mahomet Aquifer from carbon sequestration projects. A carbon dioxide leak could release toxic metals into our drinking water that could cause severe health issues such as cancer and liver damage," said Pam Richart, Co-Director, Eco-Justice Collaborative.

"While we celebrate the advancement of the bill, we also want to acknowledge that in its current form, SB 1723 does not include the Aquifer's recharge areas. We remain committed to ensuring those recharge areas, which are hydrologically connected to and replenish the Aquifer, are also protected from potential CO2 pollution."

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“A year ago, we were told discussions were closed and the Mahomet Aquifer– Illinois’ only sole source aquifer –was not going to be protected. But the voice of the public had not yet been heard. Today, Senator Faraci and the Illinois Senate passed a bipartisan bill that protects our Sole Source Aquifer from the threats of carbon sequestration.” said Andrew Rehn, Climate Policy Director at Prairie Rivers Network. 

“But it was not without concession. There's more work to do to ensure the recharge zones that feed the Aquifer also get sorely needed protections.