October 21, 2016
The
City of Evanston confirms that the water is safe for use. This confirmation is based on water
samples collected at several locations in the James Park area and other areas
in Evanston.
A lawsuit has been filed by
the City of Evanston against Nicor and ComEd regarding materials found inside
and around water lines in south Evanston. The materials found pose no hazard today to drinking water or in any
other way to the community. The City
believes these materials were brought to the area by now abandoned gas lines
used in the early to mid-20th century.
Water sampling was conducted
at several sites near James Park and two coal tar types of compounds, Fluoranthene
and Phenanthrene, were found in the water samples. These compounds are polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs). Neither the
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) nor the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) established a maximum contaminant level
(MCL) for Fluoranthene or Phenanthrene in public drinking water supply
systems. There are Illinois EPA (IEPA) Class I Potable Water Standards (35
IAC 620.410) for Fluoranthene 280 parts per billion (ppb) and Phenanthrene (210 ppb) that the results of the
water testing are compared to.
On September 4, 2015, the
City collected samples from five locations near James Park and one location in
northeast Evanston. Both compounds were
found in the water at one location (sample site 1), but not in any of the other
five locations. On October 6, 2015 a second
water sample was taken from sample site 1 and also from a nearby fire
hydrant. Both compounds were again found
at sample site 1, but not at the other location.
On July 12 and 13,
2016, water samples were collected from 15 locations, the original six locations,
the fire hydrant tested in round 2, and eight new locations in southwest
Evanston. Compounds were found at four locations, two of which had been tested previously without the compounds being
found, and at two new locations that had not been sampled previously. No compounds were found at sample site 1
during the third round of testing.
The
highest concentration of Phenanthrene found is 0.054 ppb and the highest concentration of Fluoranthene found is 0.029 ppb. As stated above the potable water standard
for Phenanthrene is 210 ppb and for Fluoranthene is 280 ppb. The water testing results are significantly
(99.9%) below the potable water standards.
Faucet mounted activated
carbon filters or water pitchers with activated carbon filters will effectively
reduce the concentrations of Fluoranthene and Phenanthrene when used as
directed. Companies that manufacture these types of filters may not list Fluoranthene
or Phenanthrene as chemicals the filter will remove, but any activated carbon
filter will effectively reduce the concentrations of these compounds.
However, since the
concentration of the compounds is so far below the potable water standards, the
City does not believe that the use of a carbon filter is necessary and is
therefore not providing any filters.
The City is arranging to
have water samples collect at approximately 60 different sites. These sites include the 15 sites tested in
rounds 1 through 3, as well as 40 additional sites from residents that have contacted
the City as of October 20, 2016 requesting their water to be tested. Additionally, the City will be collecting at
least one sample from a property in each City ward.
The Water Division will be
contacting the property owners that have requested their water to be sampled by
November 11, 2016. The collection of
samples will begin shortly thereafter. Any questions about this
process should be submitted to 311 or 847-448-4311.
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