Leyden Twsp Water District

This publication aligns with new government regulations requiring water providers to deliver detailed water quality information to customers annually. Leyden Township is committed to presenting this important data about your municipal water supply and the efforts made to ensure safe water delivery to all residents.

If you have questions about your water or this report, please contact Mr. Marcin Mitek, Certified Water Operator for Leyden Township at 847-455-8616. Non-English speaking residents may request translation assistance from friends or family.

Leyden Township receives its water from Lake Michigan via the City of Chicago. This water is purchased through the Melrose Park water system and the Franklin Park water system. Lake Michigan serves as the primary water source for Chicago and 123 suburban communities.

The Environmental Protection Agency has documented significant improvements in Lake Michigan's water quality over the past two decades. By volume, Lake Michigan is the second-largest Great Lake and the only one entirely within the United States, serving as both a water source and recreational area.

Water sources, including both tap and bottled water, may contain contaminants as water travels across land or underground. Our water source faces potential contamination from industrial waste and runoff from surrounding areas. Possible pollutants include pesticides, herbicides, radioactive materials, and petroleum production by-products.

Currently, there are no indications of these contaminants due to restrictions preventing industrial discharge into Lake Michigan. Sewage treatment facilities do not release effluent into the lake, which significantly reduces microbial contamination risk. All 63 kilometers of Illinois shoreline are now considered in good condition.

The Illinois EPA Office of Groundwater will conduct a source water assessment in the next three years. Upon completion, all potential Lake Michigan pollutants will be identified with information about contamination susceptibility.

Given the high quality of our raw water source, conventional treatment methods—disinfection, coagulation, sedimentation, and sand filtration—effectively remove harmful contaminants. The Chicago Water Department provides the necessary treatment before water is delivered through Melrose Park and on to Leyden Township.

Water is collected from Lake Michigan through several offshore inlets. Chlorine is initially added for disinfection, followed by settling and filtration to remove sediment. After remaining particles are eliminated, the water undergoes re-chlorination to eliminate any remaining microorganisms.

The Chicago Water Department continuously monitors and conducts voluntary testing for regulated contaminants without current standards, including Cryptosporidium and Asbestos. Through proper filtration, disinfection, and maintaining low turbidity levels, the risk of contaminants in our municipal system is significantly reduced.

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