Plan Completed in 2006 

The geology of the County is made up of many sand and gravel, limestone, and sandstone formations. These aquifers serve as the source of all of McHenry County's drinking water. As the population grows, the demand for water is rising, the potential for contaminating aquifers increases, and wastewater disposal becomes more difficult.

This combination of factors made it essential for McHenry County to develop a Groundwater Resources Management Plan that addressed the complete cycle of source, use, disposal and reuse.     

Overview

The way a community chooses to maintain a supply of clean water and dispose of wastewater impacts choices for land use, economic activity, community development, and the quality of life that can be achieved. The scope of the Plan was developed with the input of county and municipal officials, environmental groups, development-oriented organizations, interested businesses and citizens in active discussions of the issues so that a Plan could be created that would receive wide support. The goal was to put together a Plan that would be a useful tool for balancing supply and demand and reducing the potential of groundwater contamination. Throughout the project, regular input from the community was important and public awareness was built through this website and press releases.

The Final Plan was completed in November 2006 and consists of five reports that are described below:

Executive Summary (128 KB)

Report 1 (5.2 MB) - Groundwater Resources Management Framework

• Report 1 is a look at the rules of law that apply to groundwater in McHenry County and the development of management recommendations for consideration by the Board.

Report 2 (775 KB): Groundwater Resources Information for Planning

• Report 2 is a compilation of available land uses, water demands and hydrogeological information for the purposes of estimating the impacts of growth, capacities of the aquifers, and potential of groundwater contamination.

Report 3 (2.2 MB): Countywide Groundwater Protection Plan

• Report 3 is a discussion of groundwater quality and recommendations for actions that can be taken to prevent contamination in the future.

Report 4 (3.8 MB): Countywide Wastewater Management Plan

• Report 4 is to provide recommendations for the management of decentralized wastewater systems and to recommend a plan for the management of septage generated within the County.

Report 5 (9.6 MB): Chlorides and Agricultural Chemicals: Problem Assessments & Corrective Action

• Report 5 is a review of the impacts of chlorides, agricultural chemicals and stormwater runoff on groundwater and sensitive ecosystems and recommendations to minimize future impacts.