ILLINOIS: MARENGO Illinois Rural Water Association Helps Local Water District Expand Wellhead Protection Background Location: The City of Marengo, Illinois public water utility provides 735,249 gallons of water per day to 2,520 service connections (serving a population of 7,500). Large consumers of Marengo's source water include 11 industrial users and 105 commercial users. Marengo is located in McHenry County, Illinois. Water Supply: 1 public water system (ground water), consisting of 3 community water supply wells. Source Water Assessment: The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) completed a source water assessment for the NPPWD and distributed it to the public water system and the general public. Priority Contamination Threats The system's source water is highly susceptible to Volatile Organic Chemical (VOC) and Synthetic Organic Chemical (SOC), based on the detection of VOCs in Well #6 and an inventory of existing land use within the well recharge area. VOCs and SOCs are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production. Possible sources include gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems. Local Team and Developing the Protection Plan The City of Marengo, with assistance from the Illinois Rural Water Association, developed and published a source water protection plan which was reviewed and approved by the IEPA. The City is currently implementing the plan. Steering Committee members include elected town officials, the public water utility, and concerned citizens. Management Measures The Illinois Environmental Protection Act established a minimum protection zones of 400 feet for Marengo's wells. These minimum protection zones are regulated by the IEPA. To further reduce the risk of contamination, the City implemented a source water protection program which includes a source water planning and education committee, source water management strategies and contingency planning. This effort has helped to reduce the risk of contamination. As authorized by the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, Marengo enacted a maximum setback zone ordinance that allows county and municipal officials the opportunity to provide additional potential source prohibitions up to 1,000 feet from their wells. The City also enacted a comprehensive overlay zoning ordinance for existing and new businesses located within the recharge area of their wells. Office of Water (4606M) 816F10009 January 2010 ------- Contingency Planning Measuring Program Results For further information, contact: Mr. Edward Nadeau Marengo Water Department Phone: (815) 568-1418, ext. 224 Fax: (815) 568-0569 Office of Water (4606M) 816F10009 January 2010 ------- |