| Well Records & Public Service
General Information |
The Groundwater Information program offers informational
services related to groundwater. The program concentrates on public service activities, including dissemination of groundwater information
and water quantity and quality technical assistance. More than
3.5 million hydrologic records are on file, including water well construction
reports, hydrologic reports, groundwater level data, aquifer properties,
and groundwater quality and quantity documents. The Program provides information
to engineering firms and individuals via photocopies, computer printouts,
and/or verbal or written reports.
Services offered include: well and aquifer
production testing; hydrologic analysis of wells and aquifer testing
to determine aquifer properties and to evaluate aquifer and well potential
yield; well design; technical support to public water-supply facilities
or private individuals in regard to groundwater quantity and quality;
and well performance monitoring related to resource availability/capability;
talks, demonstrations, and presentations on groundwater
topics; and monthly reports on shallow groundwater conditions as part
of the Illinois Water and Climate Summary. Staff also collect basic
groundwater information for use in service/research needs.
STAFF
Kenneth J. Hlinka (217) 333-8431
Engaged in all activities of the Public Service Program. Contact for all types of groundwater information,
well production testing and test analyses, well design, and water-level monitoring network
data.
Greg Rogers, (217) 244-7120
Database programmer and contact for specialized data requests.
Tim Bryant, (217) 333-0239
Contact for Illinois Water Inventory Program.
Susie C. Dodd-Casey, (217) 333-9043
Principal contact for water well records.
ACTIVE PROJECTS
Database Development and Management
Program staff are continuing their efforts in a Windows-based computer environment. Entry of data sent to the Water Survey by county health departments continues and still focuses on automated document tracking and computerization of "header" information (owner, depth, use, date drilled, etc.) for private well records throughout the state. Computerization allows easy access and availability of these data; however, ultimately photocopies of the records are requested.
Contact: Rogers
Illinois Water Inventory Program (IWIP)
Illinois Water Inventory Program
Contacts: Bryant. See also IWIP.
A comprehensive program to inventory water use throughout the state
began in 1978. It was designed to collect data in three major categories:
water withdrawal, water use, and water returns. The database includes locations
and amounts of water withdrawn from surface and groundwater sources. Public
water supplies and self-supplied industries are being inventoried. Rural
water usage can be estimated from census data combined with municipal population
served. Data are summarized geographically by county and drainage basin,
as well as by various water use and water source categories for inclusion
in the National Water Use Data System.
Well and Aquifer Tests
Contacts: Hlinka
Program staff conduct well production and aquifer tests free of charge
on municipal and other large supply wells. Data collected from these tests
are used to estimate the long-term
safe yield for the well owner. Staff typically conduct tests and analyze data
for drilling contractors and consultants. Staff also provide advice on well
design (see next project description).
Well Design
Contacts: Hlinka
As part of the well and aquifer testing program, the Water Survey provides
advice on well design to municipal and industrial well owners and consulting engineers.
The Survey's main goal is to ensure that a well will
yield sediment-free groundwater from an aquifer at the pumping rate desired
by the authority requesting assistance. In addition, Survey staff frequently
suggest optimal well spacings, pumping rates, and pumping schedules for
a well or well field to prolong well and aquifer service life.
Observation Well Network
Contact: Hlinka
An integral activity is the collection of groundwater-level
data. This information is readily obtainable for use by the media, government
agencies, consulting engineers, well-drilling contractors, the general
public, and Survey scientists. The Water Survey is the only state or federal
agency in Illinois that maintains a statewide observation well water-level
monitoring program. Groundwater-level data are continually collected from
a statewide network of approximately 113 active observation wells. Historical
data on 127 inactive observation wells are also available. Of the active
observation wells, 49 are equipped with continuous water-level recorders.
Groundwater levels in the remaining wells are measured monthly.
Groundwater Information Requests
Contacts: Dodd-Casey, Hlinka
Program staff respond to requests for information and technical assistance
pertaining to groundwater resource availability and quality, water well
design, potential yields of wells, and hydraulic properties of regional
aquifers in the state. Various individuals and agencies make informational
requests. Responses take the form of
telephone calls, letters, and written reports. Program staff maintain extensive files of well records, well and aquifer
production tests, water quality analyses, and file reports.
