Forest Park

Understanding Your Municipal Water Supply

Sources of municipal water (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and groundwater wells. As water travels across land or underground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some instances, radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal or human activities. Forest Park receives its supply from Purchased Surface Water.

Potential Contaminants in Source Water

• Microbial contaminants: Viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants: Salts and metals occurring naturally or resulting from urban runoff, industrial discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides: Various agricultural sources, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage
• Organic chemical contaminants: By-products of industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants: Naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining

Important Health Information

Municipal water, including bottled varieties, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. This doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

EPA regulations limit certain contaminants in public water systems, while FDA establishes similar limits for bottled water to ensure public health safety. Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population, including those undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or immune disorders, some elderly individuals, and infants. These individuals should consult their healthcare providers about appropriate water consumption practices.

Source Water Protection Programs

Source water protection represents a proactive approach to safeguarding public water supplies through pollution prevention measures. Forest Park purchases all water from Chicago, which utilizes Lake Michigan via two treatment plants: Jardine Water Treatment Plant (serving northern areas including Forest Park) and South Water Treatment Plant (serving southern areas).

The Illinois EPA considers all surface water sources potentially vulnerable to contamination. Chicago's offshore intakes are positioned to minimize shoreline impacts, though wet weather flows and river reversals can occasionally affect water quality. Shoreline intakes face higher vulnerability to stormwater runoff, marina operations, and other point sources due to groundwater influx to the lake.

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