Kane County Health Department seeks participants to test well water for lead

Are you on a private well? Does your well water contain lead?

Lead is harmful to health - especially the health of children.

Drinking water systems in cities can contain lead, but we do not know if lead is found in private well water in Illinois.

The Kane County Health Department is looking for volunteers who live in Kane County to help answer that question.

The Kane County Health Department has teamed up with researchers at the University of Illinois and Northern Illinois University to find out if lead is a problem here.

If you want to participate, you will provide a well water sample for testing and complete a questionnaire about water use in your home.

The researchers will let you know if the well water in your home has lead. Participation is free.

Even though the health department is helping to recruit people for the study, the tests' results will not be shared with any government agency, including the health department. Researchers will send the homeowner information about what can be done to reduce lead levels if the results indicate a high level.

If you would like to be a part of the study, or want to learn about this study, contact Diane Dawson at (630) 264-7696, or DawsonDiane@co.kane.il.us.

The Kane County Environmental Health Services has two offices: 1240 N. Highland Ave., Aurora and 1750 Grandstand Place, Elgin. Visit kanehealth.com/water_waste.htm.

They provide inspection and testing of private water wells; non-community water systems inspection relating to schools, businesses and restaurants; and education on ground water protection and well maintenance.

They also provide: private sewage disposal inspection and complaint investigation; education on private sewage disposal system maintenance; and public complaint investigation - solid waste storage and handling. Call (630) 444-3040 to request a private sewage/septic inspection or permit.