Do we need to worry about our underground water supply?
We have a lot of water underground in storage but there is a limited amount of this water that is available for use. Before development, there was a balance between recharge of the groundwater from rain, and groundwater discharge to streams and rivers. Today we are pumping groundwater for human consumption and industrial and other uses, which can have the effect of lowering groundwater levels. This is the reason we need to monitor groundwater levels. If we consume too much, levels may drop to the point where there will be no more groundwater discharge to the surface. If this occurs, the surface water features such as fens and wetlands that are dependent on groundwater will dry up. Also, we will need to drill our home water wells deeper.
The Illinois State Water Survey recently completed a study in Kane County where it was concluded that some of the streams may begin drying up within the next 40 years. The study also showed that the extensive pumping of the municipal wells in the Algonquin area and other factors have lowered the groundwater levels in the western portion of Barrington Hills 10 to 30 feet since pre-development.