54
more accurate assessment. Utilizing community volunteers to offer a valuable service in a non-threatening atmosphere, is an innovative aspect of the “Test Your Well Day” concept. These events also provide well owners with educational material about groundwater protection, nonpoint source pollution, the importance of water quality, and pollution prevention practices. In addition, volunteers learn about the importance of environmental health and better understand their roles in safeguarding drinking water quality.
Unwanted Pharmaceutical Collection – The Central Committee, as part of a pilot project initiated in March 2008, set up a series of pharmaceutical collection events to discourage the normally accepted method of disposal, which is flushing down the drain. This was in response to analysis of Lake Michigan water samples, which showed detections of 56 chemicals typically found in drugs and personal-care products. The goal of the project was to establish pharmaceutical collection centers throughout the region and to educate the public about environmentally appropriate disposal methods for unwanted medicines. Advertised locally using posters, fact sheets and pamphlets, four unwanted medication collection events were held in 2008, the results of which filled six 55-gallon drums. Collection events were located near busy shopping areas for convenience, or at health department-scheduled events. Even though controlled substances were not collected, local law enforcement volunteered to provide security. An additional incentive included a collection area for used compact fluorescent lights bulbs. Several permanent collection sites have been established in Woodford County where residents can drop off old or unused medications. Tazewell County is working with Illinois American Water Company-Pekin to provide a permanent drop site in Pekin, Illinois.
East Central Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Committee – In January of 2006, Executive Order #1-2006 was issued to develop a comprehensive, statewide water supply planning and management strategy. The Executive Order assigned the IDNR’s Office of Water Resources to oversee the process, in coordination with the ISWS. To begin the effort, the Northeastern Illinois deep aquifer and the Mahomet aquifer were selected as the two aquifer systems most at risk for water shortages and conflicts. The MAC started a three-year regional water supply planning process, with a funding grant from IDNR. The first task was to convene the East Central Illinois RWSPC. This region spans the central and east-central Illinois counties of Vermilion, Iroquois, Ford, Champaign, McLean, Macon, DeWitt, Piatt, Woodford, Tazewell, Mason, Logan, Menard, Cass, and Sangamon. Two members of the Central Committee are also members of the East Central Illinois RWSPC. Representatives from the MAC and the Central Committee helped collect the data needed for the East Central Illinois RWSPC to draft the regional water supply plan and also outline and approve their regional plan.
Wittman Hydro Planning Associates, Inc. was hired to perform the water demand scenario study. With these results, geological data and information provided by the ISGS, the ISWS conducted analyses to evaluate how drought, climate change, water withdrawals and discharges affect stream flow, reservoir yield and groundwater availability. Most of this work was conducted under contract with IDNR. A final report from the ISWS was not available for the Central Committee's use; therefore, the Committee relied upon preliminary results, in the form of draft materials and PowerPoint presentations on climate scenarios, groundwater flow modeling results, and surface water
