Written by Fred Kroner, Editor of the Mahomet Citizen
In response to the natural gas leak in northwest Champaign County — north of Mahomet — the Village of Mahomet had two water samples tested last week.
The Village, in cooperation of People’s Gas, opted to conduct a dissolved gas analysis and test water samples to determine presence of natural gas.
The samples were tested by Champaign’s Isotech Laboratories, Inc., which is an ISO-9000 certified laboratory.
Results released Tuesday night showed there was insufficient methane concentration in both samples for isotopic analysis of the microbial glacial gases, commonly referred to as drift gas.
There was no evidence of any thermogenic gas (natural gas) and no presence of ethane, propane, or butane, which is usually an indicator of natural gas.
“We have confidence in our water treatment process and our customers should share that same confidence,” Village President Sean Widener said.
“We are committed to provide safe drinking water to our residents and we will continue to monitor the situation and look forward to the Illinois
Attorney General investigation into the natural gas leak.”
In a letter to Widener dated on Monday, Isotech’s senior isotope geochemist Keith C. Hackley wrote, “There was an insufficient methane concentration for isotope analysis; however, the isotopic composition of the carbon dioxide was measured.
“The analytical results showed very little methane present in either sample. No other hydrocarbons were detected.
“The rest of the gases detected are the same components that are found in the atmosphere: nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and argon (Ar).”
In his conclusion, Hackley added, “the concentration of methane observed in the Village of Mahomet water samples is very low compared to much of the groundwater sampled in the Mahomet and Glasford sands in Central Illinois. One of the main concerns of groundwater with methane is the possibility of the gas escaping in the atmosphere of a home or commercial building where it can become flammable or explosive. However, at the levels observed for the Village of Mahomet samples, there is no concern of the methane escaping and resulting in a flammable or explosive situation.”
Last week’s tests were conducted approximately 10 months after workers at People’s Gas discovered a leak.
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In an abbreviated Village Board meeting on Tuesday, trustees approved an ordinance restricting parking on part of Patton Drive.
There will be no parking on the north side of the road. On the south side, parking will be permitted except in a corridor to be marked off in front of Bridle Brook.
Also approved and set to take effect on Nov. 1 is an ordinance creating a four-way stop at the intersection of Deer Run Drive and Country Ridge.
