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Funds will help Bloomington seek new water
By M.K. Guetersloh
mkguetersloh@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON — Options for finding alternative water supplies for the city will be studied thanks to a $500,000 study approved by the Bloomington City Council at its meeting Monday.

Wittman Hydro Planning and Associates will study the possibility of using ground wells, reusing water and enhancing the Mackinaw River pumping stations, currently restricted to use during droughts. Wittman, a Bloomington, Ind., engineering firm, will partner locally with the Farnsworth Group.

The council unanimously approved the study.

The options being studied could result in a water source that could supply the city about 1 million gallons of water a day, said city water department Director Craig Cummings. The city’s daily average use is about 14 million. The city’s primary water supply, Lake Bloomington and Evergreen Lake, have the capacity to supply about 30 million gallons of water a day.

“Things have happened relatively recently that put us in a position to look at this,” Cummings said. “We are getting anecdotal evidence that indicate we’ve got options.”

Development of the Grove at Kickapoo Creek subdivision to the east has opened land areas that 20 years ago were too far from the city limits to study, Cummings added.

Nearly 20 years ago, the city began looking at developing a regional water supply to supplement the lakes following a severe drought in 1988. The regional water plan is to drill wells into the Mahomet Aquifer on the far west side of McLean County

Cummings said the goal of developing the regional water supply is still the city’s first priority, but it will be a slow process because of the number of jurisdictions and water authorities Bloomington’s water lines would cross. Negotiations are continuing, he added.

“After 20 years we need to look at our options but still not take our focus off the regional supply,” said Mayor Steve Stockton. “Clearly our first objective is the regional water supply, but this could help in the short-term add to our water supply.”



At a glance



What does this mean to you?

The city is looking for smaller, alternative water sources to add to its current water supply of Lake Bloomington and Evergreen Lake.

Background: The $500,000 study approved Monday by the Bloomington City Council is not a substitute from the city’s priority of developing a regional water supply using the Mahomet Aquifer. Well fields are being considered at the western edge of McLean County.

How the council voted: Unanimously.

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Reader comments on this story - 4 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Just thinking out loud... wrote on Aug 15, 2007 9:01 AM:

" Here's an idea..take the $500,00 and find a way to reclaim the used water or shall we call it wastewater..rather than dumping it down our water ways reuse it!!..if Singapore can do it why can't it be done in the states..sooner or later that may be the only alternative..rather than draining our lakes and Aquifers,that the smaller communities can use..lets reuse..also large Industries could use some of the reclaimed for their boilers, irrigation, ect... "

To: will some one... wrote on Aug 14, 2007 1:20 PM:

" This ia an issue that is facing many smaller communities. Hudson, Towanda, areas south and west of the city, and (soon) Downs are buying their water from Bloomington. A number of communities further west are also talking about working with Bloomington on water. It's not the brown that worries me, it's the arsenic that comes from well water. "

Native wrote on Aug 14, 2007 12:34 PM:

" Regional Water supply = Water grab from smaller towns. Colfax why would Bloomington want your water if it is as bad as you say? They just want the Mahomet Aquifer, with Bloomington cotroling it and everyone else paying them. "

Will some one... wrote on Aug 14, 2007 10:32 AM:

" save us in Colfax? Our water is horrible there not to mention the people who run the facilities. It is so great to turn on your faucet and get dirt brown, yes....dirt brown water coming from your faucet. You can't drink it, have to unfortuanetly bathe in it but according to our village..it is safe. And, that is after you get raped on your water bill for this so called great water. I would love for someone outside of our town to come and see how horrible our water is. And finally test it correctly so that we all know what is in our water. "
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