Lombard calms fears about water quality

Despite being hit hard by last week's storms, Lombard officials want residents to know the village's drinking water is safe.

Thursday's announcement came after some Lombard residents received notices on their doors urging them to call an 800 number so a free gift could be delivered.

A sales representative answering the 800 number declined to give his name but said the flier is from Elgin-based Artesian Waters Inc.

The company is offering $25 restaurant gift cards to residents who schedule appointments for Artesian to test their water.

"We're celebrating water awareness month in Lombard and educating residents on the benefits of a good filtration system," said the representative, who then made a sales pitch to a reporter.

Lombard Utilities Superintendent Angela Podesta said she believes Artesian Waters to be a valid water-filtration company, but said their timing and location was questionable.

"Based on the calls we've received, they're targeting the areas hardest hit by last week's storm," she said. "It's up to the residents whether they want to do business with the company. But they don't need to. Our water quality was not affected by the storm."

A phone message left at Artesian Waters' headquarters wasn't returned Thursday.

Some of the village's pumping stations did lose power but were run by generators until power was restored, officials said.

Meanwhile, officials with the DuPage Water Commission -- the agency that supplies Lombard and dozens of other communities with Lake Michigan water -- say there's no need for the water to be tested by outside firms.

"The commission's system was never affected by the storms, and we never lost any pressure in the system, so it is perfectly safe," said Robert Martin, the commission's general manager. "It meets all state and federal requirements, and people have no reason to worry about the quality of water."

Residents may call Lombard's public works department at (630) 620-5740 for more information.