Illinois Drought Update
Drought Response Task Force, August 3, 2005
Illinois Department of Public Health
Comparison
of 2004 – 2005 Data for Wells Permitted and Installed for the Period
of April Through July
Attatched Data sheets: Sheet 1 and Sheet2
West Chicago Region (Cook and Collar Counties)
Lake County issued nine permits and Kane County at least four permits to replace or deepen existing wells that were adversely affected by the drought. The number of wells installed increased significantly in Grundy and Kankakee Counties. The increases were primarily driven by new home construction.
Peoria Region
The number of wells installed increased significantly in LaSalle and Tazewell Counties. The increases were also primarily due to new home construction. An emergency permit was issued to construct a new irrigation well in Tazewell County.
Champaign Region
New home construction accounted for the increase in the number of wells installed in Ford, Iroquois and Macon Counties.
Lowering and Replacement of Pumps in Northern Illinois
There were reports of lowering pumps in some areas of northern Illinois due to the drop in groundwater levels and pumps breaking suction. With the extra load placed on pumps by high water demand, the rate of pump failures or burnouts increased, resulting in the replacement of those pumps.
Water Hauling
There were reports of water hauling in Clay, Fayette, Logan and Sangamon Counties.