Securing illinois' groundwater future

The NWPA is well aware that groundwater is a shared resource essential to the economy and ecosystems throughout Illinois. Groundwater resources — long considered abundant — are under increasing pressure from overuse and inadequate administration. As seen across the NWPA region and other parts of Illinois, aquifers are experiencing alarming levels of desaturation, creating significant challenges for communities relying on them for drinking water. 

​Groundwater’s vulnerability to overuse, coupled with its “invisible” nature, underscores the need for a robust governance system. Unfortunately, Illinois’ current framework falls short of addressing these challenges, focusing more on conflict resolution than sustainable resource management. 

Reviewing the 1983 Water Use Act 
Recognizing the urgency, the 2022 Illinois State Water Plan calls for updates to the state’s 1983 Water Use Act to align governance with today’s water challenges. The plan, along with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s (CMAP) recent work with the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, laid the foundation for CMAP’s partnership with Freshwater, a Minnesota-based nonprofit dedicated to water sustainability. 

CMAP and Freshwater evaluated Illinois’ existing groundwater governance framework and identified actionable steps to protect a critical resource. Securing Illinois’ Groundwater Future examines the state’s 1983 Water Use Act, assesses the high-capacity well review process, and draws insights from groundwater governance practices in neighboring states. 
The report highlights the act’s limitations: While it introduced the reasonable use doctrine, it failed to establish a comprehensive groundwater management strategy. High-capacity well reviews —critical tools for ensuring sustainable withdrawals — have been largely unimplemented since the 1990s due to insufficient funding and administrative gaps. These shortcomings leave Illinois’ groundwater vulnerable to unchecked withdrawals, with long-term sustainability taking a backseat to immediate needs. 

Comparing to other states 
Illinois can learn valuable lessons from neighboring states like Minnesota and Wisconsin, which have implemented forward-thinking frameworks. These states integrate groundwater and surface water management, assess cumulative impacts, and use permitting systems to regulate withdrawals. Wisconsin, for example, designates groundwater management areas to address regional challenges, while Minnesota evaluates proposed well impacts before construction. Illinois, by contrast, lacks such proactive measures, limiting its ability to protect shared resources effectively. 

Recommendations 
The report offers several recommendations to modernize Illinois’ approach: 

• First, the state must expand the objectives of the Water Use Act to include long-term groundwater supply management. 

• Second, it should provide dedicated funding for the high-capacity well review process and streamline coordination among state agencies. 

• Finally, improving water-use reporting systems with standardized data collection and compliance mechanisms will enhance planning efforts and transparency. 

Addressing the challenges outlined in this report requires collective action and a governance system equipped for the complexities of today’s water demands. If implemented, the updates would position Illinois to balance economic growth with the stewardship of vital water resources.