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Water system update: EPA visit cleared operations; IEPA loan payment due Oct. 1
Summary
City staff told the council the Illinois EPA’s Aug. 27 site visit raised no major operational concerns, third‑quarter water sampling is largely satisfactory pending one radon test, and the first IEPA loan repayment is due Oct. 1 with a materially larger warrant to follow.
City staff reported on multiple water-system items Tuesday night, saying an Illinois EPA inspector who visited the water plant on Aug. 27 found operations largely in order and that routine monitoring results are broadly satisfactory.
"The inspector was happy with where we were at," a staff member told the council, adding the agency requested follow-up items including keeping extra chemical‑pump spares on hand. Staff said they have contingency plans and will work to obtain the requested parts.
Staff also summarized third‑quarter sampling for volatile organic compounds, synthetic organic compounds, nitrate/nitrite and disinfection by‑products and said laboratory results are "doing great," though one radon‑related test is pending because it requires an offsite laboratory with a 30‑day turnaround. A second‑quarter fluoride result from Pace Laboratory prompted staff to collect a resample and send it to a different lab for confirmation; fluoride is regulated by the Illinois Department of Public Health, staff noted.
On lead and copper testing, staff said the mandatory 60‑site round is restarting this season; letters will go to the same homeowners sampled previously and the underground crew will drop off kits. Staff said one prior high lead or copper result tracked to a house that had been vacant for two years and that the property owner will take steps to flush lines before retesting.
The council also heard an update on service‑line leaks. Staff said leaks have been intermittently concentrated in newer subdivisions and that many failures involve flared fittings or soil settlement; staff are offering on‑site sampling and resident outreach.
In finance, staff presented the IEPA repayment notice for the recently approved water loan and warned council the first payment is due Oct. 1. "You’re not going to be caught off guard by seeing that large payment on the water fund," staff said, noting the payment amount on the notice increased markedly.
Council members asked clarifying questions about acceptable water hardness (staff said the city is operating around 180–190 milligrams per liter and that hardness is not an EPA regulated standard), well operations and a plan to address high iron in one well; staff said they expect well‑1 iron issues to be resolved and the well back online in roughly two to three weeks.
The council took no formal vote on the technical water‑quality items during the meeting; staff said they will return additional reports and the lab resample results when available.
