EPA investigating Barrington-area pool business

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed it's investigating evidence of a possible environmental crime at Barrington Pools Inc. in unincorporated Cook County just outside South Barrington.

U.S. EPA Press Officer Jayna Legg said the agency's criminal investigation division is currently investigating the business in conjunction with the Illinois Attorney General's office, and that a search warrant was executed on the property in August.

Officials at the Illinois Attorney General's office said they could neither confirm nor deny the existence of such an investigation.

South Barrington Village Administrator David Pierce said his village is aware of the investigation but has been unable to obtain further details.

When the village specifically asked whether any South Barrington residents or interests were at risk, however, the EPA said no, Pierce said.

Barrington Pools has made some efforts to be annexed by the village of South Barrington, but the village has so far declined, Pierce said. The presence of an industrial use so close to a residential area has generally not seemed like a good fit for annexation, he added.

According to its website, Barrington Pools is a company which has designed, built, renovated and maintained residential outdoor swimming pools since 1973.

Representatives of Barrington Pools did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.