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Public works reports Picayo system switched to Lake Michigan water; Wildwood main work will add a secondary feeder
Summary
Lake County Public Works told the committee that the Picayo water system has been converted to Lake Michigan water and is operating after an EPA operating permit; staff flagged elevated residual chlorine during conversion and additional lead/copper monitoring. The Wildwood water‑main project will add a secondary Lake Michigan feeder to allow inspection of a single aging main.
Director Austin McFarland updated the committee that the Picayo water system began receiving Lake Michigan water on Dec. 19 after the county obtained an operating permit from the Environmental Protection Agency and addressed new testing requirements.
"So as of December 19, the folks in the Picayo Water System are receiving Lake Michigan water," McFarland said, adding that operators completed initial flushing and are adjusting to address some complaints about elevated residual chlorine during conversion. He said the EPA imposed additional lead-and-copper monitoring that could extend about a year and a half and that the county is prepared to comply.
Member Wasek asked about the Wildwood water-main project, whether the new work would cross I-20 and whether the main would be Lake Michigan water. McFarland said the work will install a secondary feeder main carrying Lake Michigan water to the system so the existing single main (installed in the mid-1970s) can be shut off and inspected; without a secondary main, a break in the old line could interrupt service to Arbor Vista and Liberty Acres.
McFarland said staff will continue flushing and monitoring the Picayo system; no formal action or additional funding requests were recorded on these items at the meeting.
