State EPA to step up groundwater monitoring near landfills

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will more extensively monitor groundwater wells near landfills over the Mahomet Aquifer.

Thousands of residents in central Illinois depend on the aquifer for drinking water.

State Sen. Chapin Rose introduced a bill earlier this year calling for enhanced monitoring. The Republican from Mahomet says the Illinois EPA responded with a plan for a groundwater monitoring network.

The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/1UZ3wYq ) the new commitments include taking more samples from monitoring wells near or at the Clinton Landfill, the Indian Creek Landfill and the ADS/McClean County Landfill.

The Illinois EPA will also examine samples collected and tested by the Clinton Landfill to check their accuracy.

The Illinois EPA's website will integrate the data with a statewide monitoring network and publish it on its website.

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Information from: The News-Gazette, http://www.news-gazette.com