Decatur, ADM Agree on Water Wells

Decatur and its biggest water user have reached a deal to ease strain on the local water supply if a drought like last year's returns. The Decatur City Council on Monday approved a deal with agricultural processor Archer Daniels Midland Co.

The agreement lets the company sink a pair of large wells that could provide 7 million gallons of water a day.

The Herald and Review in Decatur reports that the wells would be used during water-use restrictions.

ADM draws more 14 million gallons of water out of Lake Decatur every day.  Decatur is the Fortune 500 company's headquarters.

Last summer the city enacted drought restrictions that limited how much water local residents and businesses could use. ADM wasn't affected but took its own steps to reduce consumption.