According to a letter sent by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) to the North Park PWD Community Water System, one or more Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (also know as "Forever Chemicals) were detected in the water supply at a level exceeding the applicable (potable) groundwater quality standards (see table below).
View the notice from the Illinois EPA to North Park PWD (PDF).
| PFAS Analyte | Acronym | Analytical Result (ng/L*) | Class I Groundwater Quality Standard (ng/L*) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid | PFOA | N/A | 4 |
| Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid | PFOS | N/A | 4 |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid | PFHxS | 15 | 10 |
The North Park PWD Community Water System supplies tap water to Machesney Park, Roscoe, and Loves Park. It also serves parts of Caledonia, Rockford, and South Beloit. The system serves approximately 35,500 people in the Winnebago County area, primarily using groundwater from sand and gravel aquifers.
North Park PWD Community Water System has stated it is taking both short- and long-term steps to address the issue of PFAS in local tap water. These steps include:
1) Made operational changes by shifting to alternate sources that have historically been below the new regulations.
2) Monitoring levels through monthly sampling. Due to extremely low levels (measured in parts per trillion, equivalent to a single drop of water in 20 Olympic sized swimming pools), sampling results in varying quantities. Monitoring this information and understanding what any variations in results means, is of critical importance.
3) Made operational changes by shifting to alternate sources that have historically been below the new regulations.
To learn more about Forever Chemicals (PFAS) in our local water supply and steps being taken to address the issue, see "We're in This Together" - a special water quality section on the North Park PWD website.
Read two informative articles on reducing and removing Forever Chemicals (PFAS) from drinking water, including using two of the same technologies Dr. Stillwater's employs for its bottled drinking water - Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Steam Distillation.
Reducing PFAS in Drinking Water with Treatment Technologies
Article Source: Environmental Protection Agency
How to Remove PFAS from Your Drinking Water
Article Source: Pure Water, Inc.
