Elmhurst

We believe our valued residents deserve complete transparency about their water quality. If you're interested in learning more, please join us at our regularly scheduled meetings. The Illinois EPA has completed a source water assessment for our supply system.

For a copy of this information, please visit City Hall or contact our water operator at (630) 530-3099. For a comprehensive version of the Source Water Assessment, including information on water source importance, contamination vulnerability analysis, and documentation of protection recommendations, please visit the Illinois EPA website at http://www.Epa.Nation.Il.Us/cgi-bin/wp/swap-truth-sheets.Pl

Source of Water: Chicago - The Illinois EPA considers all surface water sources supplying community systems potentially vulnerable to contamination. Surface water naturally allows contaminants to migrate into intakes with only dilution as protection, which necessitates mandatory treatment for all Illinois surface water sources.

Chicago's offshore intakes are positioned at distances where shoreline impacts typically don't affect water quality. However, during wet-weather conditions and river reversals, contamination potential exists. Additionally, the intake structures may attract waterfowl, gulls and terns common to the Great Lakes region, potentially concentrating fecal deposits that could compromise source water quality.

Shore intakes, conversely, face greater vulnerability to stormwater runoff, marina activity, and shoreline contamination sources due to groundwater flow into the lake. Throughout history, significant measures have been implemented to ensure safe drinking water for the Chicagoland area, including offshore cribs, interceptor sewers, the lock-and-dam system, and Chicago's Lakefront Zoning Ordinance.

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