Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued the following announcement on Dec. 12.
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Alec Messina and DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) Executive Director Karen Ayala today announced the start of groundwater sampling near the Sterigenics facility in Willowbrook. Illinois EPA and DCHD have worked closely to identify private wells, obtain access agreements and develop a thorough sampling plan. A Quality Assurance Project Plan has been developed by Illinois EPA technical staff and reviewed by DCHD staff. The plan includes samples to be taken at all residences near the facility that granted access.
Illinois EPA staff accompanied by members of DCHD will begin taking water samples from homes the morning of Thursday, December 13, 2018. Because access was granted to collect samples from an outside faucet (or spigot), residents do not need to be home but are reminded to ensure water is flowing to the faucet on the day the samples will be taken.
All water samples will be sent to an independent certified laboratory for analysis for ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol. The independent analysis will provide additional information for residents and assist Illinois EPA in identifying groundwater contamination of wells used for drinking water in the area. The sampling plan may be expanded if initial analysis identifies contamination. The sampling and analysis of groundwater from the private wells is being done at NO COST TO HOMEOWNERS.
Once analysis results are received from the laboratory, the data will be provided to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), who will provide the results to each of the residents once the results are finalized.
Residents with questions may contact Brad Frost, Illinois EPA Office of Community Relations at (217) 782-7027 or brad.frost@illinois.gov.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up