Share and Follow
SULLIVAN, Ill. (WCIA) — As drought conditions grip Central Illinois, the city of Sullivan has elevated its water conservation guidelines to an emergency level, instituting a temporary ban on activities such as washing cars, watering lawns, and filling swimming pools.
The decision comes in response to the latest findings from the U.S. Drought Monitor, which highlight that parts of 12 counties in Central Illinois are facing extreme drought. Additionally, a significant portion of Southern and Central Illinois is currently experiencing severe drought conditions.
Public Health and Safety Commissioner Chuck Woodworth emphasized the city’s priorities, stating, “Our primary focus is ensuring a steady supply of drinking water to our customers. All other uses will be restricted until further notice.”
Just a month ago, Woodworth had informed WCIA of the drought’s impact on Sullivan’s water sources. The aquifer, from which the city draws its water, had already dropped 15 feet, causing pumps to take in air due to the low levels.
“We’ve been closely monitoring the situation, and unfortunately, the aquifer has decreased by another six inches,” Woodworth added, underscoring the urgency of the water emergency.
Trent Ford, an Illinois State Climatologist for the State Water Survey, calls the strain on water sources the biggest impact of the current drought.
“It takes a little bit longer for a drought to create water resource problems,” Ford said. “But once we have those problems — low streams, low lakes, especially reservoirs for drinking water, I mentioned the private wells going dry — it takes a long time for those problems to be fixed.”
Even though Ford said there isn’t a magic rainfall number to get us back on track, he said Central Illinois averages about 15 inches of rain from February through May. If we get that much, or more, drought conditions will be a little bit better, according to Ford.
He said if we get less than 15 inches, Central Illinois will likely continue to feel the impact on drinking water sources.
“What we need is for that rain to come,” Ford said. “Then we need rain next week, and we need rain the next week, and we need the rain next week.”
Until it falls, Woodworth hopes people in Sullivan can help the city hang on to the aquifer water they have.
“If high demand is still being used it’s just going to create more of an issue in the near future,” said Woodworth.
WCIA tried calling multiple Sullivan area car washes to see what they think about the ban, but did not get through to any.
Woodworth said you can help the water emergency in Sullivan by doing simple things like turning the faucet off while brushing your teeth or taking shorter showers.