Illinois EPA Notifies North Park Public Water District of Right-to-Know Requirements

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) is notifying the owner and operator of the North Park Public Water District (PWD) that there has been a confirmed detection of a contaminant in finished water. This notification is required under Section 25d-3(a) of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act [415 ILCS 5/25d-3(a)]. Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) was detected and confirmed at the entry point to the distribution system of the North Park PWD at a concentration of 2.57 micrograms per liter (ug/L). The drinking water standard or Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for PCE is 5 ug/L; therefore, the detected level does not exceed the MCL; however, this notification is required pursuant to Section 17.10(c) of the Environmental Protection Act due to a volatile organic compound (VOC) detection of greater than 50 percent of the MCL. Section 17.10(c) also requires the water district to take action to address the concentration of PCE.

The North Park PWD in Machesney Park consists of 12,952 direct service connections, supplying drinking water to an estimated 33,084 individuals. PCE was detected in finished water at TP02 from Well 2.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Act requires the owner or operator of the community water system to provide notification to its customers regarding this contamination by mail, email, post card, text message or telephone within five business days of official receipt of the Illinois EPA's notice. Within seven days of sending the notices, the owner or operator of the community water system must provide the Illinois EPA with written proof that the notices have been sent.

This press release and other appropriate notifications will be posted on the Agency website at: https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/drinking-water/public-water-users/Pages/notices.aspx.

PCE is a manufactured VOC widely used for dry-cleaning fabrics and metal degreasing operations. A frequently asked questions factsheet for PCE can be found on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) website at:  https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/ToxFAQs/ToxFAQsDetails.aspx?faqid=264&toxid=48.