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Jay Rivera, Joliet chief water plant operator, walks away after checking the water level at well 24d in Joliet on Feb. 23, 2021. He said 24d is drilled to a depth of 1,500 feet and measured the water level at 970 feet below the ground.
Jay Rivera, Joliet chief water plant operator, walks away after checking the water level at well 24d in Joliet on Feb. 23, 2021. He said 24d is drilled to a depth of 1,500 feet and measured the water level at 970 feet below the ground.
A pressure vessel, designed to remove radium from water, is shown at the Joliet Public Utilities on Feb. 23, 2021. Joliet has voted to switch over to Lake Michigan water as groundwater depletion continues in northeast Illinois.
A pressure vessel, designed to remove radium from water, is shown at the Joliet Public Utilities on Feb. 23, 2021. Joliet has voted to switch over to Lake Michigan water as groundwater depletion continues in northeast Illinois.
Pressure vessels are shown Feb. 23, 2021, at Joliet Public Utilities. Joliet is the latest city to give up on the deep aquifers.
Pressure vessels are shown Feb. 23, 2021, at Joliet Public Utilities. Joliet is the latest city to give up on the deep aquifers.
Water flows through pipes at the Joliet Public Utilities in Joliet on Feb. 23, 2021.
Water flows through pipes at the Joliet Public Utilities in Joliet on Feb. 23, 2021.
Green pipes carry thousands of gallons of water per minute from multiple wells at the Joliet Public Utilities on Feb. 23, 2021.
Green pipes carry thousands of gallons of water per minute from multiple wells at the Joliet Public Utilities on Feb. 23, 2021.
Jay Rivera cups flowing water from a faucet connected to pipe from multiple Joliet wells.
Jay Rivera cups flowing water from a faucet connected to pipe from multiple Joliet wells.
Suction and discharge gauges at the Joliet Public Utilities in Joliet on Feb. 23, 2021.
Suction and discharge gauges at the Joliet Public Utilities in Joliet on Feb. 23, 2021.
A visitor photographs the the icy Rock River and the St. Peter sandstone aquifer that makes up the “castle rocks” at the a scenic overlook at Castle Rock State Park in Oregon, Illinois, on Feb. 19, 2021.
The icy Rock River at Castle Rock State Park in Oregon, Illinois, on Feb. 19, 2021. The St. Peter Sandstone, one of the deep aquifers that wells in northeastern Illinois draw from, is visible at land surface along the Rock River.
The icy Rock River at Castle Rock State Park in Oregon, Illinois, on Feb. 19, 2021. The St. Peter Sandstone, one of the deep aquifers that wells in northeastern Illinois draw from, is visible at land surface along the Rock River.
A top portion of St. Peter sandstone that makes up the “castle rocks” at Castle Rock State Park in Oregon, Illinois. The St. Peter sandstone, one of the deep aquifers that wells in northeastern Illinois draw from, is visible at land surface along the Rock River.
The icy Rock River at at Castle Rock State Park.
The icy Rock River at at Castle Rock State Park.
St. Peter sandstone is visible at an overlook area at Castle Rock State Park.
St. Peter sandstone is visible at an overlook area at Castle Rock State Park.
The Rock River and the St. Peter sandstone are seen at Castle Rock State Park in Oregon, Illinois, on Feb. 19, 2021. The St. Peter sandstone, one of the deep aquifers that wells in northeastern Illinois draw from, is present at land surface along the Rock River.
The Rock River and the St. Peter sandstone are seen at Castle Rock State Park in Oregon, Illinois, on Feb. 19, 2021. The St. Peter sandstone, one of the deep aquifers that wells in northeastern Illinois draw from, is present at land surface along the Rock River.
A snow-topped portion of the St. Peter sandstone is shown at Castle Rock State Park in Oregon, Illinois, on Feb. 19, 2021.
A snow-topped portion of the St. Peter sandstone is shown at Castle Rock State Park in Oregon, Illinois, on Feb. 19, 2021.