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1. Where does the Village of Park Forest get its water?

The Village is supplied by ground water pumped from six wells drilled approximately 340 feet deep into a dolomite limestone aquifer. The wells are all located within a one-mile radius of the Village’s Drinking Water Treatment Plant. Ground water is pumped from the wells to the plant where it is treated using a lime and soda ash softening process. The treated water is also filtered using anthracite and sand. Chlorine is added as a disinfectant, fluoride is added to help prevent tooth decay, and phosphates are added to help inhibit corrosion. Drinking water is then pumped from the plant to the consumer through 72 miles of underground drinking water mains.

2. Does the Village of Park Forest test for lead?

Yes. The Village is required by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to test for lead every three years from IEPA-approved sites. The Village does not have laboratory facilities to test for lead in drinking water, but contracts with a lab certified by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The most recent sampling period was July/August of 2017. The results are posted on the Village’s website at www.vopfwaterreport.com. The Village complies with all IEPA testing requirements and have met those requirements every year since testing began in 1997.

3. How likely are Park Forest residents to be at risk from lead in their drinking water?

The bulk of Park Forest homes were built in the 1950s and 1960s when lead piping was more prevalent. While most of Park Forest’s water system was not built using lead piping there are fixtures and joints that could contain lead both within the Village’s water system and inside a resident’s home. Current chemical testing indicates Park Forest homes do not have lead levels approaching amounts that are a cause for concern under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines, though, it still is possible for some homes to have small traceable amounts of lead in their tap water under the right conditions.

4. How does lead get into drinking water?

Lead will most often enter the drinking water from pipe corrosion or wearing away of lead-based materials.

5. What does the Village of Park Forest do to prevent elevated lead levels?

The Village adds chemicals to the drinking water at its Treatment Plant that coat the inside of the pipes to inhibit corrosion and prevent leaching of lead into the drinking water supply. While it is possible that some homes may still have lead service lines or lead solder pipe joints, the Village’s corrosion control methods reduce the amount of lead leaching into the drinking water from these sources as well. These anti-leaching, anti-corrosion additives are safe for consumers.

6. What are the chances the Village’s old water mains are adding lead to the drinking water supply?

The 72 miles of municipal water mains are mostly Cast Iron or PVC. Some lead solder joints still remain, but the drinking water mains are coated by the additives the Village of Park Forest uses to inhibit corrosion and lead leaching. In addition, unlike the drinking water in one’s home, the drinking water in the Village’s mains flows constantly. The leaching of anything into the drinking water occurs from standing water. That’s why experts recommend that homeowners run their tap water for at least three minutes before use if it has not been used in the previous six hours.

7. Do water main breaks or construction increase lead levels

Maintenance on the Village’s water system has the potential of causing corrosion on any lead piping of fixtures that may exist. That’s why experts recommend homeowners run their tap water for at least three minutes after any water main work is performed in your area. The Department of Public Works notifies residents in the area of any planned water main work prior to construction.

8. What would be the most likely source of lead in my home’s tap water?

If you have lead in your home’s tap water, the source most likely is the service line pipe connecting your home to the municipal water main, lead solder joints in your home’s own plumbing, or brass fixtures manufactured prior to 2011.

9. If my home has a lead service line, can it be replaced?

Yes. A property owner can replace the water service line. Property owners are responsible for the cost of replacing the service line from the shutoff valve to the house.

10. Should I test my drinking water for lead?

If you are concerned about the possibility of lead in your home’s drinking water, you can have your drinking water tested by a certified laboratory. If you have difficulty finding a certified laboratory for testing, contact the Public Works Department at 708-503-7702.

11. What are the health effects of lead in drinking water?

Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to young children, pregnant women, and infants-particularly if they drink formula prepared with tap water containing elevated levels of lead.

12. What measures can I take to reduce the lead in my home’s drinking water?

The U.S. EPA recommends the following steps:

• Flush your pipes before drinking - The more time the water sits in your home’s pipes, the more lead it may contain. Any time water in a particular faucet has not been used for six hours or longer, flush the cold water pipes by running the water until it becomes as cold as it will get. This could take as little as 30 seconds or up to three minutes. To save water, use the water you flush out for watering plants.

• Use cold water for cooking and drinking - Use only water from the cold-water tap for drinking, cooking, and especially for making baby formula. Hot water is likely to contain higher levels of lead. Run cold water until it becomes as cold as it will get. Boiling water will not get rid of lead contamination.

• Use water filters or treatment devices - Many water filters and water treatment devices are certified by independent organizations for effective lead reduction. Devices that are not designed to remove lead will not work. Verify the claims of manufactures by contacting National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International at 800-NSF-8010 or visiting www.nsf.org. Some water filters that remove lead also remove fluoride. Residents with children may wish to discuss fluoride replacement with a dentist.

13. Where can I find more information?

Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or by visiting www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. You also can review the Village’s Annual Water Report posted at www.vopfwaterreport.com. If you would like to discuss the issue with a local contact, call Village of Park Forest Public Works Department at 708-503-7702.