The Mahomet Aquifer provides clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people. | Adobe Stock
The Mahomet Aquifer provides clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people. | Adobe Stock
The Senate approved legislation in April proposed by Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Champaign) that will create a Mahomet Aquifer Council designed to oversee matters having to do with water supply.
"Thanks to senators on both sides of the aisle for helping protect our water supply," Rose said in an April 24 Facebook post. "Unanimous."
The bipartisan-backed proposal was motivated by a recommendation from the temporary Mahomet Aquifer Protection Task Force created in 2017.
Senate Bill 2515 heads to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to have large support.
If established, the council would include representatives from various government bodies, including the General Assembly, the Environmental Protection Agency, and industries related to the environment and water supply.
Once established, the council will provide insight and analysis on laws and regulations passed relating to water availability and supply. According to Rose, the passing of the bill would "better position us to try to protect our aquifer into the future.".
The Mahomet Aquifer is a supply of water that stretches from Cass County to Vermilion County. It provides safe and clean drinking water to over half a million people in Illinois.
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