Upcoming in Mahomet 2022: #1 Moving forward on clean water for victims of People’s Gas leak, a commentary

*Editor’s Note: The Mahomet Daily has published several news articles on the People’s Gas Leak, and movements towards getting clean water to residents. This is not a news article, but rather a call to get it done.

In places like Mahomet, it is hard to imagine life without a clean and abundant water supply. 

Stored in the Mahomet Bedrock Valley, spanning 15 counties in East Central Illinois, the Mahomet Aquifer produces about 100,000,000 gallons of freshwater daily to about 850,000 people. 

But even in 2022, there are many man-made threats to the environment that provides an essential component to everyday life. About 30 residents north of Mahomet in Newcomb Township know what it’s like to live on property without a usable water source. They’ve been doing it since 2016.

People’s Gas, which broke earning records in 2018 and 2020, netting a worth of $156 million, was instructed by the State to put gas monitors and gas/water separators in the homes that were affected by a 2016 natural gas leak from Manlove Field. As for other repercussions, that is still in limbo with the Attorney General’s office. 

The company was mandated to perform a comprehensive inspection of all 153 of the facility’s wells and to provide the state with written procedures for operations, maintenance, and emergencies. But, other than that, things appear to be at a standstill.

Still, there are people in our community longing for a water source that they can drink from the faucet or bathe their children in. 

In June 2020, Senator Chapin Rose announced $3.8 million to begin the development of public infrastructure to bring clean water to rural residents who continue to live with contaminated wells. It will take another $3.5 million, at minimum, to get water the rest of the way to the homes. Still, about 10 residents will continue to live without a clean water source from the leak that may still be spreading throughout the ground. 

Those funds from the capital bill have yet to be released. The Sangamon Valley Public Water District continues to stand poised to make that infrastructure a reality when the money is released.

While funds for capital projects have been delayed, there have been funds for projects much less important that have been released within the East Central Illinois area. Why wouldn’t this be high on the priority list? Shouldn’t we be a people who value uncontaminated water for all? 

The question remains, though, why should taxpayers have to foot the bill for missteps, for the negligence of People’s Gas? Shouldn’t People’s Gas have their necks and dollars on the line putting a public water source in danger and clean up their mess?

Usually, in America that is not the way things work. Instead, large corporations get slapped on the hand after they’ve spent their millions on attorneys rather than responsibilities while the “little guy’s” well-being and lifestyle is affected. 

The people who live north of Mahomet deserve clean, reliable water just like the rest of us. It’s time for the state to release the funds. And it’s time for the state to hold People’s Gas accountable.