Hickory Hills

The City of Hickory Hills conducts regular testing for contaminants in our municipal water as required by Federal and State regulations. The Public Works Department collects multiple water samples throughout the City twice monthly, as mandated by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). These samples are analyzed at an IEPA-certified laboratory, with results forwarded to the IEPA in Springfield.

Our Public Works Department employs six state-certified IEPA water operators who have completed specialized training and passed IEPA certification examinations. The attached table displays monitoring results from January 1st through December 31st, 2017. The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) establishes safe consumption limits, and any contaminants at or above the "Maximum Contaminant Level" (MCL) are noted.

Certain minerals in water are beneficial for health. All water, including bottled varieties, naturally contains small amounts of some substances. The presence of trace contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the USEPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

The USEPA sets regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA regulations establish similar standards for bottled water. Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population, including those undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS, elderly individuals, and infants. These groups should seek advice from healthcare providers. USEPA/CDC guidelines for reducing infection risk from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available via the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.

Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, particularly for pregnant women and children. Lead in water primarily comes from service lines and plumbing components. While we cannot control materials used in plumbing components, you can minimize lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If concerned about lead, consider having your water tested. Information about lead in water is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

The City of Chicago uses Lake Michigan as its source water, with treatment at two plants: Jardine Water Purification Plant (serving northern areas) and Southern Water Purification Plant (serving southern areas). Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake entirely within the United States, bordering Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It ranks second among the Great Lakes by volume (1,180 cubic miles) and third by area.

The IEPA considers all surface water sources potentially vulnerable to pollution, as surface water offers no protection except dilution. Chicago's offshore intakes are positioned to minimize coastal impacts on water quality, though contamination risks exist during wet-weather flows and river reversals. The intake structures may attract waterfowl, potentially concentrating fecal deposits near intakes. Shoreline intakes are particularly vulnerable to stormwater runoff and coastal point sources.

For more information on Chicago's Source Water Assessment Program, contact the City of Chicago Department of Water Management at 312-744-6635 or visit www.epa.state.il.us/cgi-bin/wp/swap-fact-sheets.pl.

The City of Chicago continuously monitors for Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and E. coli in its source water. Though Cryptosporidium hasn't been detected in recent samples, Giardia was identified in one sample in September 2010. Treatment processes have been enhanced to effectively remove these organisms. The city has maintained excellent compliance with safety standards, reporting no violations in the past 25 years, including this reporting period.

.. ...