By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – Two new water monitoring stations will track the water flowing into Lake Bloomington and Evergreen Lake.

The city of Bloomington is partnering with Illinois State University to help residents keep track of their drinking water.

“It will measure how much water is going into the lake and it’ll also measure the samples that we take, we’ll bring back to the lab and analyze for different types of nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus,” ISU Associate Professor of Biology Bill Perry said. “All of this will be going on to a live website so residents and people that live in the watershed can look at what the water quality is going into the lake.

Perry said the water in both lakes is safe to drink but the concern is that nitrates and phosphates from the nearby soil are eroding into the lakes, causing problems with the lakes’ water capacity.

Perry said if researchers can solve that issue, it will greatly help farmers in the area.

“We’re looking at ways to improve and maintain farming soil quality, keep the nitrogen in the fields and out of the streams so farmers can keep their profit margin,” Perry said.

The water monitors will cost the city of Bloomington $37,658 to install and $48,000 every year to maintain and monitor.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].