The Association pursues managing water at its source through the exchange of ideas on groundwater management and the development of groundwater management plans. Information is reviewed not only with IWAA members, but with other groundwater groups on a state, regional and national level.

The Association is active in seeking the adoption of legislation to sustain and improve local groundwater management. The work of the IWAA benefits its member authorities and the groundwater users in the state of Illinois. These benefits accrue to private well owners, agricultural and commercial water users, as well as municipal and other community water suppliers

As the primary government entity with broad, statutory groundwater management responsibilities, WIAA and its member water authorities collectively provide coordinated groundwater management activities and information sharing. As a central organization for groundwater management, IWAA works closely with other government groups such as Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Water Resources, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois State Water Survey, and the Illinois State Geological Survey. Locally, IWAA connects with County Health Departments and Soil and Water Districts.

Brief History

The legislation that established the Water Authorities was approved in August 1951. The Act was primarily established to assist the city of Effingham to develop Lake Sara and the infrastructure to supply water to the Effingham residents. In the late 1980s, interest in the Act was revitalized by Central Illinois citizens to manage and utilize a number of the state’s aquifers. A number of referenda were passed and authorities created for a variety of purposes, including the sale of water, the development of aquifer management plans, economic development plans and, in some cases, overt protectionism.