Studies and regulations in the Southwestern Illinois Karst

摘要

Ground water quality in the Southwest IllinoisKarst has deteriorated greatly over the past decade. This changecorrelates with increased development and the increased use ofaeration systems for private sewage treatment and disposal. TheMississippi Karst Resource Planning Committee was formed byconcerned citizens to address the problem. The committee is nowengaged in both education and research in the sinkhole plain.Some of these activities are supported by a US EPA Section 319Grant. The data generated and conclusions drawn should allowfor improvement of ground water quality in the region througheducation and, possibly, regulation on the state or local level.Some local karst regulations have been adopted, in part, due tothe efforts of the committee.