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Discolored water complaints drop in Prairie Pointe

The issue involving discolored water in some houses in the unincorporated Prairie Pointe neighborhood near Round Lake has improved, but Lake County's public works chief does not consider it settled.

"I don't want to come across by saying the county is satisfied," public works director Rodney Worden said.

"'Stabilized' is a good word," he added. "We have a plan. It will be fully restored to normal service by the end of June."

Complaints from residents in the 500-house subdivision about discolored water caused by a buildup of iron have slowed to a trickle, and the situation appears to be getting better, according to Lake County Board member Judy Martini.

The village of Round Lake receives Lake Michigan water through the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency. Prairie Pointe receives well water through a system operated by the county.

Martini pleaded the residents' case April 4 at the county board's public works and transportation committee. The response was an increase in communication, including a robocall, adding a Web page on the public works site, testing and weekly posting of iron levels, and a switch to a secondary well that may lower iron levels, she said.

Repairs to the primary iron filtering system that unexpectedly failed in early March have been expedited and should be complete by the end of June, two months sooner than projected, Martini said.

And, at her request, residents also are offered a 2,000-gallon credit on water bills for their inconvenience.

Resident Jason Zeller, who was the frontman in calling attention to the woes associated with brownish or yellowish water, said he is awaiting the first test results for the backup well.

"We'll see if that's better than the other one," he said.

Prairie Point has two wells. One had been out of service for planned maintenance since early February and was returned to service April 11.

"Drawing from this source will help reduce the level of iron in the system," Martini informed residents.

County officials stress the water is safe to drink and iron levels are within required state standards. Besides switching to a new well, the county has flushed the water lines and has been using additives to reduce the iron concentration.

Specialized piping for the iron filtering system is being fabricated, with installation beginning in May.

Worden said "not communicating enough" with residents when problems were discovered was an issue but officials have stepped up efforts. Worden said he's been getting about one complaint a week.

"I wouldn't say we're happy, (but) we're happy that there is progress and they're communicating with us," Zeller said.

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