Decatur has put plans to drill wells to help supplement the local water supply on hold. And the move may be permanent.

City staff members recommended in a memo ahead of the Sept. 2 City Council meeting that the project be put on hold while they look at other options.

Reports indicate the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency found some well sites were too close to sources of contamination while water at other sites identified by a contractor was too heavy in iron.

The well proposal was made as the city endured severe drought in 2012. Lake Decatur is the source of most local drinking water and was very low.

Now the city will look to other possibilities such as buying a lake that's now privately owned and improving a well field the city already owns, said Keith Alexander, the director of water management.