McHenry County relies on ground water for all of its drinking water needs. It is one of three counties designated by the Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources as a priority area for potential ground water contamination. The community has embarked on an extensive campaign to educate its residents about the importance of ground water protection. Activities include: the Middle School Groundwater Project, which includes hands-on well testing, partnerships with professionals, and school ground water celebrations; adoption and monitoring runoff from storm sewers by elementary school students; student participation in the first stage of a wellhead site inventory; distribution of ground water brochures to local businesses; conducting a workshop on ground water for citizens and business leaders; student testing of the Kishwaukee River for water pollutants like nitrates, phosphates, fecal coliform and total solids; student production of a ground water television show for a local TV station; and including a section on ground water in McHenry County on the Prudential Realty Internet homepage for prospective home buyers.

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