BYRON AREA WATER WELL TESTING RECOMMENDED

SPRINGFIELD , Ill. – Residents who obtain their drinking water from private wells in the Byron area are advised to have the water tested for possible groundwater contamination, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced today.

Routine testing of the city’s municipal water wells by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) revealed levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) exceeding the groundwater quality standard, indicating that contaminants could also be present in the area’s private wells.

The Byron municipal water system no longer uses the municipal water wells in which contamination was identified.

Persons with private wells located within the area north of the Rock River, south of East Fifth Street, east of North Franklin Street, and west of Mineral Street, are encouraged to have their water tested by a private laboratory.

A list of private laboratories approved for testing can be obtained by calling Clay

Simonson, Illinois Department of Public Health, at 815-987-7511. Once samples have been analyzed, residents can call the health department for an explanation of the test results.

Exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) for long periods may increase the risk of liver and kidney damage, and impair immune system function and fetal development.

This information has been compiled from historic data and is provided to the public to ensure full disclosure of state records.