Water use cut at Lake Co. forest preserve headquarters

Employees at the Lake County Forest Preserve District headquarters in Libertyville were told Friday not to drink the water after testing showed slight levels of lead.

But that didn't alter the routine much at the 1920s-era home on the east side of Milwaukee Avenue that has served as the main office for more than 30 years.

A notice alerting the 32 employees not to drink or wash fruit in the water, which comes from a well on the property, was posted after the Illinois Department of Public Health noted low levels of lead in four of five sites tested there.

Very few if any staffers drink the water anyway, according to Tom Hahn, executive director.

"That's another reason we want to move. We've been using bottled water here for at least 10 years," he said.

Periodic water tests are required. Hahn said he can't recall ever seeing lead show up in samples and surmised it was due to the old piping.

In any case, no actions were mandated by IDPH and the district doesn't intend to do anything other than avoid the source. Use of the coffee maker and dishwasher also were curtailed Friday.

"We're certainly not going to spend any money to address this," Hahn said.

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, with the greatest risk of exposure to infants, young children and pregnant women.

Failing utility systems were among the reasons the district in February authorized the $4.1 purchase of a vacant office building along Winchester Road in Libertyville for a new headquarters.

The district intends to consolidate eight offices, including the headquarters, that are scattered throughout the county.

An architect has been hired to redesign the third floor of the building once occupied by Motorola. Meanwhile, the land acquisition, fundraising and outreach education staffs next month will move into temporary space there on the first floor.

"Their buildings are deteriorating so much that we have to get them out of there," Hahn said. "We'll have a presence in the building starting in October."

The remaining staffers are expected to move to the new location early next summer.