Sanitary District of Decatur, IL

Clean water isn't just a job for SDD employees -- it's a passion. SDD Director of Innovation & Compliance Ashley Bailey and Laboratory Supervisor Keith Richard belong to the Heart of the Sangamon River Ecosystem Partnership (HOTSREP), a group of local farmers, scientists, conservation groups, and government agencies that seek to balance natural resource stewardship with compatible economic and recreational growth. Two of the biggest objectives of the HOTSREP group are reducing nutrient loss (nitrogen and phosphorus) from farm fields and preventing soil erosion that slowly fills up Lake Decatur with sediment. Keith serves as Vice Chair of the organization.

SDD is proud to support The City of Decatur's new initiative next week! We make a huge impact every day protecting beautiful Lake Decatur and The Sangamon River Watershed.

Make a difference in your neighborhood during the inaugural Community Impact Days! From July 17 to July 19, let's work together to make Decatur cleaner, stronger, and more connected. Help in any way you can; no act of service is too small! ◾️ Pick up litter ◾️ Mow a neighbor's lawn ◾️ Plant flowers We have five organized Decatur neighborhoods that are planning cleanup activities. If you are looking for ways to get involved in your neighborhood or for cleanup ideas, connect with the Coalition of Neighborhood Organizations on Facebook. Make sure to share your impact using #DecaturImpact2026

July is Plastics Free Month! Single-use plastics play a huge role in water pollution, and small changes can make a big difference. At SDD we "walk the talk" in our new Administrative Workforce Center (AWC) employee kitchen, which is equipped with metal cutlery (not plastic) and non-plastic dishware. Used utensils and plates get washed in the dishwasher and are ready for the next person. The AWC also features water bottle refilling stations to cut down on disposable plastic bottles. These are just a few examples of how we model environmental stewardship here at SDD.