Peoria-Pekin Regional Ground-Water Quality Assessment

Abstract

This study reports the results of sampling a major aquifer in central Illinois and seeks to define a baseline measure of ground-water quality. The area was targeted because of the use of hazardous substances in proximity to ground-water users. The initial assumption that potential problems might exist proved to be overly pessimistic. The overall quality of ground water from the Sankoty aquifer was found to be excellent, although very hard. The study does recognize, however, that naturally occurring organic carbon occurs more frequently than was previously thought. Methane is dissolved in ground water and frequently occurs, in the eastern portion of the study area, as a volatile organic compound (VOC).