Protect Our Water

PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES

The June 2008 Campton Hills newsletter reiterated the 5 pillars (promises) of the elected officials to the citizens of the village. Protecting and managing the water resources is one of the promises. In fact the bullet point states that we have no choice but to manage our ground water since Lake Michigan and Fox River water is not available. The village has decided that the three significant factors to control are the Wasco Sanitary District waste water, determine the recharge capacity of the aquifer under the village and cooperate with Kane County to manage storm water.

The aquifer under the village is not a single entity based on the data available from the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS). In reality the ISGS identifies multiple aquifers classified as less than 50 feet beneath the surface, less than 300 feet beneath the surface, less than 500 feet beneath the surface and greater than 500 feet beneath the surface. The significance of the depth is the recharge region for the aquifer. The shallow aquifer is less productive particularly west of Burlington road because the soil type is clay and rainwater does not percolate into the subsurface readily. In fact the Evening Prairie subdivision drainage pipe is a symptom not the cause of flooding. The soil does not absorb the water quickly when it rains. If the water is not absorbed it becomes runoff moving toward the nearest watershed. The open land to the west and northwest side of the village exhibits open fields as well as some development. The water falling on crop land does not recharge the aquifer, but supplies the thirsty row crops with moisture. The open cultivated fields also promote evaporation. Hence, water falling on this land is not recharge water.

Recharge comes from soils that are clay/gravel or rock based. This type of soils is more prevalent east of Campton Hills in St. Charles. This recharge water is also found at the several hundred foot level. The aquifers that supply the bulk of the residents are not replenished by the farmland to the west, but by percolation from rain and runoff water entering more receptive soil.

All of this information is available from the ISGS website at no cost. In fact, the latest detailed maps have been completed in Mc Henry County. The website also provides a list of publications about groundwater and related subjects.

So far the Wasco Sanitary District has successfully demonstrated compliance with state requirements for capacity and waste water management thus removing that responsibility from the village. Secondly, the geology of the soil in the village suggests that the current village strategy and tactics on development will not impact the recharge of the shallow aquifer. Third, the deeper aquifer is not recharged from rainwater falling on village controlled land so there is little for the village to do on this point. Lastly, the Kane County water management plan has been accepted by the village.

One can conclude that this pillar of the village platform is not under the control of the village or the village government in any form.

Campton Township
Water Study

This is property North of Evening Prairie Subdivision after 14 days with no rain. Please read on.