SAUK VILLAGE, Ill. (STNG) -- Residents who get their drinking water from private wells in the south suburban Sauk Village area are being advised to have their water tested for possible contamination.
The Illinois Department of Public Health issued the advisory Wednesday morning after routine testing of Sauk Village’s municipal wells by the Illinois EPA showed contaminants could be present in private wells in the area.
The contaminant vinyl chloride was detected in the village’s untreated well water at a level higher than the Illinois Groundwater Standard of 2 micrograms per liter, according to a release from IDPH. The contaminant cis-1,2 dichloroethylene was also detected, but at a level lower than the standard of 70 micrograms per liter.
However, the same groundwater serves private wells and IDPH said it is possible levels of cis-1,2 dichloroethylene may be higher in private wells.
The risk of adverse health effects depends on the level of contaminants in the water and the length of exposure, the release said. Long-term exposure to these chemicals may increase the risk of liver and kidney effects.
Persons with private wells located within the public notice area are encouraged to have their water tested for volatile organic compounds by a private laboratory.
The area includes residents of unincorporated Sauk Village, Lynwood and Ford Heights in an area roughly bounded by Glenwood-Dyer Road to the north, Geneva Drive to the east, Steger Road to the south and Cottage Grove Avenue to the west.
For a list of laboratories certified to analyze drinking water, contact Joe O’Connor at the IDPH West Chicago Regional Office at (630) 293-6800.
The Sauk Village community water supply meets all U.S. EPA drinking water standards, and no violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act have occurred, although the annual average concentration of vinyl chloride is close to violating standards, the release said.
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