About The Illinois State Water Survey

Groundwater Science

Eastern Mahomet Aquifer Groundwater Monitoring

With funding provided by Illinois American Water- Champaign, ISWS monitors water levels at a network of observation wells in the eastern Mahomet aquifer and overlying Glasford aquifer. The main purpose of the network is to collect long-term data to study how the aquifer is impacted by large groundwater withdrawals from public, industrial, and irrigation use. This monitoring also helps ISWS scientists determine how the aquifer is recharged, how it interacts with streams, and how it responds to droughts and floods. The observation well network consists of wells open to the Mahomet aquifer and overlying Glasford aquifer. Many of these sites are nested sites, meaning there are Mahomet and Glasford wells located at the same location, allowing vertical gradients to be established.

The ISWS initiated monitoring water levels in the Mahomet aquifer just west of Champaign in 1953 to help resolve a dispute between the petro-chemical company in Tuscola and the water utility serving Champaign and Urbana. In the 1990s, interest in understanding groundwater flow prompted state funding of the Aquifer Assessment Program, leading to the Development of an observation well network in the Mahomet Aquifer of East-Central Illinois. This monitoring network was greatly expanded in 2007-2009, particularly in Champaign County, with funding from Illinois American Water- Champaign. 

Real-Time Monitoring Wells

The following wells are equipped with real-time data (see map below for locations). Click on a well to view the hydrograph and download the data.

In addition, these hydrographs can be accessed through the ISWS interactive map of observation wells.

Additional Information

Below are relevant monitoring and modeling reports related the eastern Mahomet aquifer.

This video shows the daily deviation in groundwater levels from the mean aquifer level at each of the wells monitoring with pressure transducers. It shows the response of the aquifer to flooding in Piatt County, irrigation in Champaign County, and pumpage by the city of Decatur in DeWitt County.

IAWC_MWs_2025

Map of the observation well network in the eastern Mahomet aquifer and the current sites with telemetry stations.

 

 

 

Illinois State Water Survey

2204 Griffith Dr., MC-674
Champaign, IL 61820-7463
217-333-2210
Email us with questions or comments.

Staff login

 

© 2025 University of Illinois Board of Trustees. All rights reserved.
For permissions information, contact the Illinois State Water Survey.
 Terms of use | Privacy Policy | Web Administrator