The source of DeKalb’s drinking water is everywhere. It just can't be seen.

Like the majority of the United States, DeKalb uses groundwater wells located throughout the city to acquire its water. The water is pumped out of the ground
through a series of water wells.

“Presently, the city draws its water from six deep wells and three shallow wells,” according to the City of DeKalb’s Web site.

Each well contains 16 or 17 pipes, said Dale Swineheart, an operator for the city’s water department.

“DeKalb gets water from two aquifers: one sandstone and the other sandstone and gravel,” said Colin Booth, professor of geology and environmental geosciences. “The sandstone aquifer is very common; most major cities use it.”

The sandstone and gravel aquifer is more of a local source.

After the water is pumped from the ground, it is brought to one of five treatment plants in DeKalb. The water is then treated by chlorine gas to get rid of bacteria, by polyphosphates to sequester iron so there are no rust stains and by fluoride for teeth, Swineheart said.

“We have water softeners like in houses but on a larger scale,” he said.

“The city also uses four elevated storage tanks totaling 5.75 million gallons to balance pressures and provide sufficient water for fire protection and peak demand periods,” according to DeKalb’s Web site.

The system of groundwater wells is the most reasonable option for DeKalb.

“There is no other source of water for DeKalb, because we have no surface water supply,” Booth said.

The city does not use the Kishwaukee River as a water source because it is not reliable enough, he said.

“The flow is not sufficient enough because it dries out each summer,” Booth said, adding groundwater has better quality.

Unlike the Kishwaukee, the groundwater is not likely to dry up.

“Even in the dry summers, there will be no water shortages; at least not in the near future,” Swineheart said.

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