Chambana Sun

Susan Mantell, Chairwoman of the Champaign County Republicans, expressed concerns over the protection of the Mahomet Aquifer. She said that failing to safeguard this vital water source "would be a disaster for Illinois citizens, threatening the clean drinking water of nearly a million people." Mantell shared her statement with Chambana Sun on October 13.

"Failing to protect the Mahomet Aquifer would be a disaster for Illinois citizens, threatening the clean drinking water of nearly a million people," said Mantell. "If this vital water source is contaminated, it could cause severe health issues, force families to rely on expensive bottled water, and leave entire communities scrambling for alternatives. The aquifer isn't just a water source—it fuels our farms, businesses, and industries, driving the economy of Central Illinois. Ignoring these risks is reckless and irresponsible, endangering public health and jeopardizing the future of our communities—it's a gamble we can't afford to take."

According to NPR Illinois, Champaign-Urbana lawmakers, State Senator Paul Faraci and State Representative Carol Ammons, are planning to introduce legislation aimed at banning carbon capture near the Mahomet Aquifer. This aquifer supplies drinking water to nearly one million residents in Central Illinois. The proposed legislation seeks to protect the aquifer from potential CO2 contamination. Pam Richart of Eco-Justice Collaborative highlighted the aquifer's importance for local communities and the economy. The initiative is a response to concerns about carbon sequestration projects and previous leaks and may be introduced during the Illinois General Assembly’s fall veto session.

Prairie Rivers Network said in a July 26 petition that "The Mahomet Aquifer provides drinking water to nearly 1 million people in Central Illinois." They emphasized that large carbon sequestration projects pose risks by potentially altering water chemistry through CO2 leakage, which could mobilize contaminants such as heavy metals.

A release from State Senator Chapin Rose’s office on July 18 reported that Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1289, allowing carbon sequestration beneath the Mahomet Aquifer. Despite opposition from local lawmakers like Rose, who criticized the decision as a threat to public health, the bill passed without prohibiting CO2 storage under the aquifer. Rose accused Governor Pritzker of prioritizing industry profits over water safety and filed Senate Bill 3963 to ban carbon sequestration over the aquifer.

WCIA reported that Republican Representative Brandun Schweizer joined opposition efforts against a bill regulating carbon capture projects in Illinois in May. Although negotiations between stakeholders have been ongoing for years, Schweizer pointed out that the bill did not exclude the Mahomet Aquifer as a potential site for carbon dioxide pipelines. He underscored concerns about possible contamination due to CO2 leakage.

Mantell was first elected as Chairwoman of the Champaign County Republicans in 2024. Her focus includes increasing Republican voter turnout, expanding party membership, and communicating party positions on key issues affecting Champaign County voters.