The money, officially called a “congressional earmark,”
unofficially, “pork,” is in the budget concerning Interior-Environmental agencies.

This the second grant that the 16th District congressman has obtained for the McHenry County Board to finance water-related activities.

The subject was taken up in earnest by the McHenry County Board after the A-LAW (Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water) referendum to create a water authority covering large parts of McHenry, Boone and DeKalb Counties was defeated at the polls in 2007 by development interests.

Manzullo’s press release follows:

Manzullo Secures Another $280,000 to Help McHenry County Preserve Abundant Drinking Water Supplies
(CRYSTAL LAKE) The U.S. House today approved another $280,000 in federal funds to help McHenry County officials ensure abundant and safe drinking water for residents for generations to come.

The funding, secured by Congressman Don Manzullo, is included in the FY 2010 Interior-Environment conference report, which the House passed today. The bill also includes a Continuing Resolution to keep the federal government operating through Dec. 18. As a result, the bill must be passed by the Senate and signed into law by midnight Saturday when the prior continuing resolution expires.

Manzullo previously secured $295,000 in federal funds for the McHenry County Groundwater Protection program two years ago. That funding helped pay for the installation of observation wells and equipment to monitor groundwater supplies and quality throughout the county. The new funds will be used to develop a 3-D hydro-geologic modeling project and a groundwater flow modeling project to provide a much more exact measurement of the county’s groundwater resources.

“The preservation of abundant, safe groundwater supplies is especially vital for McHenry County because – unlike the other collar counties of Chicago — it does not have access to Lake Michigan water and relies solely on aquifers for drinking water,” Manzullo said.

“I congratulate county and community leaders for coming together three years ago and creating the McHenry County Groundwater Protection Task Force, and recognizing groundwater preservation is key to McHenry County’s superior quality of life. That’s why I requested and secured these funds that are vital to McHenry County’s future.”