Check of Libertyville area wells urged

Residents on private wells in the Libertyville area are being urged to check their water for possible contamination.

The advisory by the Illinois Department of Public Health affects persons who get their drinking water from private wells in an area north of Route 176, south of West Casey Road, east of Route 45 and west of Milwaukee Avenue.

Public water supplied by the village of Libertyville was deemed safe and is not included in the advisory.

Routine testing by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency showed contaminates could be present in private wells in the area. Tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene were detected at levels lower than Illinois Groundwater Standard, according to a health department release.

Although lower than the standard, it is possible levels could be higher in private wells.

Persons in the affected area should have a private laboratory test for volatile organic compounds. Contact Joe O'Connor, at (630) 293-6800 or at joe. o'connor@illinois.gov for a list of laboratories certified to do the testing or for interpretation of results, information on health effects and recommendations for persons who regularly consume well water.

Similar notices were sent to Fox Lake area residents in May and to Antioch area residents this week.

According to IDPH, the risk of adverse effects depends on the level of contaminants in the water and the length of exposure. Long-term exposure to the chemicals could result in an increased health risk to the liver and kidneys.

Drinking was supplied by Libertyville meets all federal drinking water standards. To learn about the community water supply, contact Kurt Neibergall at the IEPA, (217) 785-3819 or kurt.neibergall@illinois.gov.