The Mahomet Aquifer is the primary source of drinking water for municipalities and homeowners in 15 Illinois Counties. It is the sole source of water for residents of the Cities of Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy, as well as other central Illinois communities. The aquifer provides drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people. The aquifer also supports thousands of commercial, industrial, and agricultural water users.

The University believes that preserving this source of clean water that is vital to all of our residents, as well as to agriculture and industry, is in the best interest of the community. To that end, the University has partnered with other communities and affected parties including the Cities of Champaign, Urbana, and Delavan, the Village of Savoy, and the Town of Normal to protect this vital resource. This group will submit an application to the U.S. EPA to have the Aquifer designated a Sole Source Aquifer (SSA).