Illinois Success Story

RC&D Mapping Rural Water Systems

By: Jill Creamean, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist
Date: May 2003

Working with state and local partners, the Southwestern Illinois RC&D has made digital technology and natural resource protection a reality. Working through the Southwestern Illinois RC&D, NRCS has coordinated an effort that provides accurate information about water delivery systems to rural communities. With this digital data, community leaders can respond more quickly and appropriately to water-related issues and public works projects.

Previously, no digital, statewide data existed on water lines. This lack of information hampered efforts to improve rural water delivery, added to the cost of system expansions and upgrades, and translated into lost opportunities for rural community economic development. Now, current and reliable information about 130 rural water systems is available to water system managers and the Rural Water Association.

"With this digital data at our fingertips, water system managers can instantly pinpoint problem areas and communicate immediately with affected customers. It will be an important part of our homeland security system, which, of course, is on everyone’s mind right now," said Gary Blumenstock, Illinois Rural Water Association.

The project began in 1999 as a pilot program directed by and funded through Southwestern Illinois RC&D. RC&D programs are administered through USDA’s NRCS. Many partners worked to gather data and coordinate the project. Technical specialists at Southwestern Illinois RC&D and NRCS pulled the project together and provided standards for digital data entry and use. While this project did not involve NRCS’ traditional on-the-ground assistance to individual producers, the data will help land managers and community leaders to make better community planning decisions which will indirectly enhance and protect soil and water resources across the state.

Photo caption: NRCS assistance helped create a digital database to track water delivery systems statewide with Digital Information Systems (GIS). The database will serve as a key resource for agencies and organizations across the state to make planning decisions and address public works and water related issues in a safe and timely manner.