Groundwater found in Monroe, Southern St. Clair and Western Randolph Illinois counties is stored differently than other regions. It travels through cracks, crevices and caves found in the limestone bedrock below ground much like an underground river. Filtering of groundwater in karst areas is by passed due to the fact that water flows directly into the sinkholes, along with whatever the water carries along with it.
Many people rely on groundwater for drinking, cooking and other household uses.
We need to remember, what we do on the surface affects the water many people drink. Groundwater can be contaminated in many ways in a karst area. Anything dumped on or in the ground will find its way into the groundwater. This type of pollution is very dangerous in a karst area because pollutants are carried directly through sinkholes to our groundwater.