MAC History
The History of the Mahomet Aquifer Consortium (MAC)
By Dorland F. Smith and Ed Mehnert
The story of why MAC was created and who was instrumental in its formation.
In the mid 1990s, the Illinois Water Authority Association (IWAA) and its member water authorities were competing with the water companies, municipal water systems and other entities for legislation, funds for studies, attention from IDNR Division of Water Resources, and resources of the Illinois State Water and Geological Surveys. The water companies had a bill entered into the General Assembly to put all high capacity wells and water withdrawals under the Illinois Commerce Commission. This was in reaction to the efforts of a water authority to prevent a municipal water system to drilling tests wells to see if wells could be developed in their area to supplement the municipal water supply. Through the efforts of the IWAA Executive Committee, contact was made with Senator Stanley Weaver, Urbana (52nd District) who was Chairman of the Committee hearing the proposed bill. After an explanation of the situation, Senator Weaver stated that he felt it was in the best interest of the state that the entities get together and solve their differences and if necessary submit legislation that they both could support. Under the promise that the groups would work together, he stated he would hold the bill in committee. With that the parties sat down at the same table and realized that they were all looking for the same thing but just weren’t listening to the other party.
At the 1998 Illinois Water Conference in Urbana, a meeting was held of key stakeholders in the Mahomet Aquifer area seeking a solution to their problems. After discussion it was decided to form a group known as the Mahomet Aquifer Consortium (MAC). At that meeting, a steering committee was loosely formed of the following organizations: Northern Illinois Water Company, Champaign (now Illinois American Water Company (IAWC); Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB); City of Bloomington Municipal Water System; IWAA; Mackinaw Valley Water Authority (MVWA); Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) and Illinois State Geologic Survey (ISGS).
This group began to meet monthly and as it progressed they decided to incorporate as a not-for-profit corporation in the State of Illinois. With the five (5) entity representatives being the original incorporators: Duane Cole, IAWC, Mel Pleines, MVWA; Dorland Smith, IWAA; George Drye, City of Bloomington and Nancy Erikson, IFB. These incorporators eventually became the first Board of Directors. IAWC attorney furnished a sample set of bylaws which Duane Cole and Dorland Smith refined into the document that was adopted by the membership in April 2000. Anyone with an interest in the activities of the MAC can become a member at no cost by making an application. The bylaws also created a group known as technical advisors that attend board meetings, serve on committees and assist the board in its activities. The original mission statement for the MAC was to further study the Mahomet Aquifer system on a regional basis and to develop options for the management of this valuable public resource. In November 2010, the mission statement was expanded to include surface water resources and reads: to further study the Mahomet aquifer system, the river basins and surface waters located in the 15 county regional water supply planning area and to develop and recommend options for the planning and management of these valuable public resources.
After it was incorporated in 2000, the MAC depended on contributions from some of its members for operating funds. The first brochure was printed and some entities purchased copies for distribution, giving the MAC some additional operating funds. The Board of Directors and Advisors provide in-kind service in the operation of the MAC. IAWC provides space for Board Meetings, telephone service for conference calls, is our corporate office address for legal purposes and mail address for Corporate mail. ISWS provides the room for our MAC member meetings. ISGS provides the expertise as our webmaster and assist us in applying for grants. IWAA provides the secretary and treasurer to keep minutes and financial records. MVWA serves as chairman of the MAC and its committees. IFB was one of the early contributors and provides assistance as secretary in the absence of the one of the early contributors and serves on many of the committees.
In 2005 MAC applied for and received a 501 (c) 3 designation from the IRS. Additional fund raising letters have been sent to various entities in the region asking for financial support for the activities of the MAC. In the last two years, additional funds to continue the work of water supply planning and scientific studies have been raised from about 40 different entities.
The MAC has been the regional entity planning and assisting the East Central Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning (RWSPC) created under Executive Order 2006-01, which was implemented by IDNR Office of Water Resources. The Committee structure was based the regional committees used by the Texas Water Development Board for its water supply planning process, but revised slightly to fit the needs of east-central Illinois. RWSPC includes representatives of 12 interest groups-- Agriculture; County Government; Electric Generating Utilities; Environment; Industries; Municipal Government; the Public; Rural Water Districts; Small Business; Soil and Water Conservation; Water Authorities; and Water Utilities. The RWSPC, with technical consultants, produced three water-supply reports—
Water Demand Scenarios for the East-Central Illinois Planning Region: 2005-2050
Released August 2008
A Plan to Improve the Planning and Management of Water Supplies in East-Central Illinois
Released June 2009
Released June 2018
As an annual educational service to the Mahomet Aquifer Consortium regional water stakeholders, we provide the East Central Illinois Water Stakeholders Conference. These day long conferences have occurred over the last 12 years. Representatives from the Illinois Water and Geological Surveys provide their latest search findings and reports as well as other state agencies.