The Champaign County Environment and Land Use Committee (ELUC) held its regular meeting Thursday.
After months of research and procedural maneuvering, the ELUC approved a measure to specify the types of coolants used in closed-loop well systems. The systems circulate a mixture of water and a heat-exchanging chemical through a loop of pipe buried underground.
Until recently, there have been no restrictions on the types of coolants used, prompting fears of potential groundwater contamination if the pipes were to break. Upon investigation, county officials learned they would need the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to make its own rule change at the state level for any local rule to be implemented. The IDPH recently gave its approval and Champaign County moved forward accordingly.
With the restrictions passed, the mixture circulating in closed-loop systems will have to be pure water or a mixture of water and methanol, ethanol or food-grade propylene glycol.
The committee also approved several hotel, entertainment and restaurant licenses.
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