Our testing results and investigation indicate our water treatment facility, water mains, service lines and source water do not contain lead. Although we continue our rigorous investigation, at this time, we believe the source of the lead is tied to an adjustment in the treatment which appears to have changed the water chemistry so that existing lead in internal plumbing of older properties was released into the water. We continue to work very closely with the regulatory agencies to restore safe drinking water for all affected customers.

On Thursday, June 13, 2019 Aqua Illinois received lead test sampling results, which detected elevated levels of lead in some homes. Aqua Illinois notified those customers on Friday, June 14, 2019.

All water service providers are highly regulated and required to do regular testing to ensure their water is safe. The testing results received on June 13, 2019 were the result of regularly scheduled and required water testing.

Aqua Illinois notified customers whose samples showed elevated lead levels. Aqua Illinois sent a message to all potentially impacted customers providing information on precautions the following day, Friday, June 14, 2019 through our WaterSmart Alerts program, as well as on our Aqua Illinois website and social media. Aqua Illinois continues to update the community as new information becomes available. Customers can call 877.987.2782 for more information. To receive alerts, please sign up here.

Initially, Aqua Illinois issued a do not consume advisory to all residents of University Park, Green Garden and Monee Township. Through localized testing, Aqua Illinois has confirmed that the entire community is NOT impacted. We have eliminated some areas from the do not consume advisory and will continue to provide updates to customers as they become available. To check for updates in your area, please call 877.987.2782 for more information.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Illinois Commerce Commission both have laws and regulations in place to ensure that water utility companies protect the public against lead in drinking water.

Aqua Illinois stopped using the original treatment product and began using a new, common treatment called orthophosphate on the evening of Saturday, June 15. Orthophosphate is known to be effective at forming a protective scale with lead and prevents it from dissolving into the water. We continue testing to ensure this new treatment is effectively addressing the issue. We will continue to work very closely with the regulatory agencies to restore safe drinking water for all affected customers.

Boiling the tap water will NOT reduce the amount of lead in your water.

Aqua Illinois will deliver water filter pitchers that are certified to remove lead to residents in the impacted area. Please call 877.987.2782 for more information.

We recognize the inconvenience to customers and are working closely with these communities to mitigate the negative impact as much as possible. Customer accounts will be credited for any days they were under a do not consume advisory, as well as for any water used for recommended flushing. We are working diligently to ensure that customer bills are not adversely impacted by this event.

Please call 877.987.2782 for any questions regarding your water.

Through localized testing, Aqua Illinois has already removed some areas from the do not consume advisory. Residents in these areas should still flush their systems by running their water for two minutes before consumption. To check for updates in your area, please call 877.987.2782. While we are confident in our treatment solution, we will continue to be vigilant in monitoring results during this period. It is important to note the protective scale formed by Orthophosphate takes time and we believe that it will take a few weeks, but it may take longer. Until further notification from Aqua Illinois, residents in impacted areas should continue to follow the do not consume advisory.

You cannot see, taste, or smell lead in drinking water. The only way to detect lead in water is to have it tested. To request free water testing, please call 877.987.2782.

Aqua Illinois partners with independent testing laboratories to analyze water samples and determine lead levels.

To ensure your health and safety, all customers under the do not consume advisory should take the following precautions: Do not drink, make ice cubes, prepare formula, cook or brush teeth with tap water. For these uses, use filtered or bottled water while the do not consume advisory is in effect in your area. Outside of consumption, all other uses of tap water are acceptable, including bathing, hand washing and washing dishes. For more information and to check on updates regarding your area, please call 877.987.2782. Until further notification, customers in areas that have been removed from the do not consume advisory should still flush their systems by running water for two minutes before consuming any tap water. Aqua Illinois will follow up with all customers when all areas of the service territory have been removed from the do not consume advisory.

For more information on health and safety effects of lead, please visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website here.