Macomb

This year, similar to previous years, your tap water has met nearly all USEPA and state health standards for municipal water quality. Our team diligently protects your water supply, and we're pleased to report no violations of contaminant levels or other water quality standards during the past year.

This report summarizes the quality of water we provided last year, including information about water sources, contents, and how it compares to regulatory standards. We're dedicated to sharing this information because informed residents are our greatest allies.

Where Does Your Tap Water Come From?

During 2017, Macomb provided water from two primary sources. The majority came from our Spring River surface water supply, while the remainder was pumped from the groundwater aquifer directly beneath Macomb.

Treatment Process

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) considers all surface water sources potentially vulnerable to contamination, which is why treatment is mandatory for all surface water in Illinois. Our process includes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. After treatment, the finished water enters a million-gallon clear well where it's blended with treated groundwater before distribution. Our groundwater receives reverse osmosis (RO) treatment before mixing with surface water.

Source Water Assessment

The IEPA has completed a source water assessment for our supply. For a copy, please contact the Water Treatment Manager at 309-836-3916, or visit the IEPA website. This assessment indicates our water supply is susceptible to contamination from erosion and runoff.

Potential Contaminants in Water Sources

Municipal water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain small amounts of certain contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects is available by calling the USEPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land or underground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and radioactive materials and can pick up substances from animal or human activity.

Possible contaminants include:

• Microbial Contaminants: Viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, or wildlife
• Inorganic Contaminants: Salts and metals that occur naturally or result from urban runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and Herbicides: From agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses
• Organic Chemical Contaminants: Including synthetic and volatile organics from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, or septic systems
• Radioactive Contaminants: Naturally occurring or from oil/gas production and mining

To ensure tap water safety, the USEPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. FDA regulations set similar limits for bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection.

Health Information

Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Immunocompromised persons—such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or immune disorders, some elderly, and infants—may be particularly at risk. These individuals should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. USEPA/CDC guidelines on reducing infection risk from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water primarily comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. While Macomb provides high-quality water, we can't control the materials used in plumbing components. When water sits unused for several hours, minimize lead exposure by running your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If concerned, you may have your water tested. Information about lead in drinking water, testing methods, and minimization strategies is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

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