Scherer-Backed Bill Protecting Local Drinking Water Passes

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Local drinking water will be better protected under a new bill sponsored by state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, aimed at preventing contamination of the Mahomet Aquifer—which serves as the sole source of tap water for much of Central Illinois.

“Our communities depend on the safe and clean supply of underground water we get from the Mahomet Aquifer, so ensuring that we control the chemicals and potential contaminants being stored above that aquifer has always been a top priority for me,” said Scherer. “If industry is going to be storing chemicals underground, they need to be sure they are not affecting our drinking water.”

Scherer sponsored Senate Bill 1723, which passed the House last Tuesday and now heads to the governor’s desk. The bill will protect critical sources of drinking water like the Mahomet Aquifer from pollution by restricting carbon sequestration—a process involving injecting captured carbon underground—above groundwater sources that serve as the sole source of drinking water for an area. The measure will also create a Mahomet Aquifer Advisory Study Commission in collaboration with the University of Illinois to assess the safety and risks associated with carbon storage that can affect humans, animals, and environmental health.

“Nearly 20 counties and over one million people depend on the Mahomet Aquifer without immediate access to a viable alternative,” said Scherer. “We want smart, safe solutions to the rising threat of climate change but not at the cost of our water—the most essential element for life.”