Utility Co-op Connection
EJ Water Co-op provides vital service in rural Illinois
New water lines are extended to homes that are part of the EJ Water Cooperative in southern Illinois.
Photo courtesy EJ Water Co-op
By Anne Mayberry capital of Springfield. Ice Age, flattening much of the terrain
Rural Utilities Service “People just kept signing up,” co-op and depositing rich soil in parts of the
USDA Rural Development CEO Bill Teichmiller says, quoting EJ’s state.
anne.mayberry@wdc.usda.gov first president, Delbert Mundt, in “The second glacier stopped around
explaining the cooperative’s success. Champaign, about in the center of the
hen EJ Water Teichmiller says that a combination of state,” says Teichmiller. “Ground water
Cooperative was factors is behind the continued growth is readily available north of this line,
incorporated in 1989, of the utility. but south of the line we didn’t get the
plans were to serve 400 “The biggest drivers in Southern glacial till, which promotes additional
residents. Today, EJ Illinois are both quality and quantity of ground water supply.” Those soil
water has more than 7,500 member- water. Where the glacier stopped, water deposits today are the reason
households and serves a rural is not plentiful,” he says, referring to agriculture thrives here and plays a key
population of 23,000 in seven counties the second of two glacial masses that role in the state’s economy. But finding
of south-central Illinois, near the state moved through the region during the water in this part of the state is difficult,
26 January/February 2010 / Rural Cooperatives
he says. “In addition, the presence of oil density and where construction is easy doors in our ability to use technology.
and gas can cause problems with water are usually among the first to connect, We use systems for remote monitoring
quality.” while others take longer,” Teichmiller and, with the help of broadband, our
The presence of sulfur and saltwater says. “We are able to reach areas that trucks are e-mailed service orders and
are often among the issues the utility would be difficult or costly to serve can access water-system controls, maps
must address, Teichmiller explains. Area thanks to the help of USDA Rural and other pertinent information from a
residents who