Mahomet Aquifer Groundwater Monitoring
With funding provided by the Illinois-American Water Company, ISWS monitors water levels via a network of observation wells in the Champaign and Urbana region of the Mahomet aquifer system. The main purpose of the network is to collect long-term data to study how the aquifer is impacted by large groundwater withdrawals for public, industrial, and irrigation uses. This monitoring also helps ISWS scientists uncover how the aquifer is recharged, how it interacts with streams, and how it responds to droughts and floods. The monitoring network consists of observation wells screened into the Mahomet aquifer as well as the overlying Glasford sand and gravel aquifer.
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. This monitoring network was greatly expanded in 2007-2009 with funding from Illinois American Water. The hydrologic behavior of the Mahomet aquifer is described the water supply planning report Development of an observation well network in the Mahomet Aquifer of East-Central Illinois.
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.
Real-Time Monitoring Wells
The following wells are equipped with real-time data. Click on a well to view the hydrograph and download the data.
- CHAM-07-04B (Bondville)
- CHAM-07-01A (Zahnd Pond)- Mahomet
- CHAM-07-01C (Zahnd Pond)- Glasford
- CHM-95B (North Mattis)- Mahomet
- CHAM-08-06 (North Mattis)- Glasford
- CHAM-09-03A (Orr Farms)- Mahomet
- CHAM-09-03C (Orr Farms)- Henry/Glasford
- CHAM-09-05A (Stanton Township Garage)
- CHAM-12-02A (Dillsburg)- Mahomet
- CHAM-12-02C (Dillsburg)- Glasford
- CHAM-20-01 (Dewey New Site)
- CHM-96A (Dewey Old Site)
- CHM-95D (Seymour)
- CHM-96C (County Line)
- IRO-98C (Crescent City)
- PIA-2000A (Cisco)
- PIAT-09-01A (Railroad Museum)- Mahomet
- PIAT-09-01B (Railroad Museum)- Glasford
- Petro North
- Petro South
- VERM-08-01A (Armstrong)
Additional Information
- Anomalous groundwater pressure responses in the Mahomet Aquifer near the Manlove Gas Storage Field
- Champaign Water Levels 2009-2014
- Potential impacts on the Mahomet Aquifer and surface reservoirs
- 2012 Drought in Illinois
