Hinckley area water well testing recommended

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health is advising residents who obtain their drinking water from private wells in the Hinckley area to test their water for possible groundwater contamination. Routine testing of the city’s municipal water wells by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) indicates contamination could be present in the area’s private wells.

Although the contaminants were found in Hinckley’s source water, contaminants are removed at the city’s water supply treatment plant to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards so those on the public water supply are not affected.

Persons with private wells located within the city limits South of Miller Avenue/Clark Avenue, are encouraged to have their water tested by a private laboratory.

Contaminates detected include tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), exceeding the groundwater quality standard, and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (cis-1,2-DCE) and toluene below the groundwater quality standard.

A list of private laboratories approved for testing can be obtained by calling Illinois Department of Public Health’s Rockford office at 815-987-7511. Once samples have been analyzed, residents can call the health department for an explanation of the test results.

The risk of adverse health effects depends on the level of contaminants in the water and the duration of exposure. Long-term exposure to these chemicals may increase the risk of liver and kidney damage.

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