BY PETER K. LENNON
How to get water by the state
CONSIDERABLE controversy has developed in the last few years over the nation's drinking water. Various environmental groups throughout the country have petitioned state and local governments to monitor and safeguard local drinking water supplies. The concerns of such groups are broad and complex and include the pollution of lakes and reservoirs by power facilities and factories, the seepage of chemicals and toxins from landfills into wells and springs, the long-term effects of the lead which is still used as pipe coating in many systems, and the use of reservoirs for recreational activity.
Many of the water purity problems, of course, are caused by home plumbing systems that are below standard, The public system may be delivering pure water, but by the time it reaches the tap corroded pipes can make it unsafe to drink. The impurity of drinking water is not always discernable. Testing by water quality experts is advisable whenever a home supply is suspect. There are two state agencies responsible for testing potable water. For those whose drinking water is supplied by well, cistern, or spring, testing is done by the Illinois Department of Public Health. There are three laboratories—in Springfield, Chicago, and Carbondale—and eight regional offices. Instructions, along with an approved laboratory sample collection bottle, are sent free of charge to residents in these categories who feel they may have a drinking water problem. A report form is also sent and must be filled out and returned with the water sample. The return postage to the laboratory or regional office is the only ice required (see addresses below). Within two to six days of receipt of a water sample, the department will return a complete analysis.
Samples taken without regard to department instructions are usually unable to be properly analyzed due to the strict procedures that must-be followed. The process will be greatly expedited by first contacting the regional office of the Department of Public Health for precise instructions and a sample bottle. Individuals with chlorinated water should request specially prepared containers. In certain cases a personal visit is made by a health official, and in all problem cases a recommendation is made to the individual for correction and positive action.
The majority of Illinois residents, however, are linked to public water supply systems. For those citizens, public water testing is accomplished routinely for the municipality by system engineers in private laboratories. Depending on the size of the system, samples are also sent to the state Environmental Protection Agency on a regular basis. Water is generally tested daily in large public systems.
Individuals supplied by a public system may contact their local water suppliers for questions concerning drinking water and testing. Both local and state officials are available for onsite inspection if any serious drinking water problem is found to exist.
For private supply systems (wells, springs, cisterns) contact:
Public Health regional offices are
located in Champaign, Chicago,
Edwardsvilie, Marion, Peoria,
Rockford, Springfield and Wheaton.
310 / Illinois Issues / October 1975