Governor Pritzker Signs Groundwater Protection Act Restricting Industrial Aquifer Depletion

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Governor JB Pritzker signed the Illinois Groundwater Sustainability and Agricultural Protection Act (Senate Bill 2912) Thursday during a ceremony at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, enacting rigorous state oversight on high-capacity industrial water withdrawals from critical regional aquifers.

Statutory Withdrawal Caps and Permitting Framework

The legislation empowers the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and the State Water Survey to designate Groundwater Management Zones across the Mahomet and Deep Bedrock aquifer systems. Industrial facilities, data centers, and commercial manufacturing plants proposing to withdraw more than 100,000 gallons per day must obtain certified state permits proving that operations will not lower municipal well levels or agricultural irrigation capacity within a five-mile radius.

The law also requires industrial users to establish continuous digital water-table telemetry accessible to local soil and water conservation districts.

Agricultural and Environmental Coalition Support

The Illinois Farm Bureau and regional environmental coalitions strongly championed the bill, pointing out that severe summer drought cycles combined with rapid industrial development have strained groundwater supplies for central Illinois family farms and municipal drinking systems.

Governor Pritzker affirmed that balancing economic growth with natural resource preservation is necessary to maintain long-term agricultural prosperity.

Regulatory Rulemaking and Public Review

The IEPA will publish draft aquifer management zone boundaries and administrative permitting guidelines by November 1, 2026.