On Wednesday, February 1, the Village received calls about an odor in the water in the area between Route 31 and Douglas Road. This area generally receives water from the Village’s main Water Treatment Plant. That plant was taken off-line at noon that day as a precaution, and the affected area is now receiving water generally from Well 8 Treatment Plant.
Public Works staff has continued system flushing to bring fresh water into the affected area. The combination of removing the affected water and dilution should eliminate the compounds that are causing the odor. The Village has contacted several residents who have reported a lower odor level, although some reported little or no improvement.
Trace amounts of two petroleum-based chemicals—Xylene and Ethylbenzene—were found, but in very low concentrations, and far below the Environmental Protection Agency standards for health hazards. Tests found Xylene at a maximum concentration of 26 micrograms per liter, and the EPA limit is 10,000 micrograms per liter. Similarly, tests discovered Ethylbenzene at a maximum of four micrograms per liter, and the EPA limit is 700 micrograms per liter.
Public Works staff has been focusing on removing the odor from the water in the distribution system, but has begun the process of determining the source of the chemicals. The treatment plant will remain offline until the source has been determined.