Illinois Groundwater Consortium

About the IGC

The Illinois Groundwater Consortium (IGC) was established in 1990 to investigate the short- and long-term effects of agricultural chemical contamination on groundwater, the environment, and, ultimately, human health and welfare. IGC members—the Illinois State Geological Survey, the Illinois State Water Survey, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the University of Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, and the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service—worked toward providing a scientifically valid basis for agricultural management and regulatory decisions affecting groundwater.

The IGC was funded by Congressional appropriations through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by SIUC's Office of Research Development and Administration. Funding for the consortium ended with the 2003 fiscal year. This web site is still being maintained in abbreviated form to allow access to IGC research findings.

Research Emphases

The IGC began its work with basic research studies on groundwater, particularly groundwater contamination and the effects of flooding on groundwater and surface water in Illinois. In its later years of operation, the consortium emphasized the relationship between land use practices, particularly urban and industrial growth, and water quality and quantity. The IGC funded grants on a competitive basis from proposals submitted by consortium members. A research/planning conference held each year in April brought together researchers, government agency personnel, and other interested parties to discuss IGC research findings and to chart future directions for the consortium.

Publications

Each year, the IGC published technical proceedings of its research conference. Proceedings from 2001 onward are published online only. Prior to 2001, print volumes were published, with abstracts provided online for recent volumes. Back copies are still available for some years.

An occasional publication, the Groundwater Bulletin, was published in Winter 1993/94 and Winter 1995/96. It summarized findings to date for the general public, principally farmers and others involved in agriculture, public health, and related fields.