'Unacceptable': Lake County water crisis stretches into fifth day - Daily Herald

'Unacceptable': Lake County water crisis stretches into fifth day

-
-
-
Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart

Despite earlier corporate assurances that the problem was being resolved, hundreds of Lake County residents awoke Thursday without reliably safe drinking water for the fifth consecutive day.

The emergency has affected a reported 1,200 Aqua Illinois customers in Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer and nearby unincorporated areas since Sunday morning. Many had no tap water at all until Wednesday -- and some say they lost service again after temporarily getting it back.

People are angry at the utility company, complaining about the duration of the crisis and what they're calling poor communication.

"We received messages saying we should conserve our water usage when we didn't have any water," Hawthorn Woods resident Susan Bauer said. "They have failed to keep (their) customers updated with timely and accurate information."

Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart agreed.

"The time it has taken for Aqua Illinois to fix this is unacceptable, as is their lack of communication with the residents," Hart said Thursday morning. "My heart goes out to the residents that are affected by this water issue."

In a statement on its website, Aqua Illinois on Thursday thanked people "for their continued patience as we work to restore full service and lift the boil water advisory."

Jim Bilotta, Aqua Illinois' director of business development, apologized for the inconveniences people have experienced.

"But some of this stuff is beyond our control," he added.

Why Aqua Illinois?

Neighborhoods affected by the emergency include the Wentworth, Westbury and Sanctuary Club in Kildeer and the Hawthorn Woods Country Club in Hawthorn Woods.

While many Lake County homeowners get water from Lake Michigan-based systems or private wells, these and others receive water from Aqua Illinois through deals struck with real estate developers, not elected officials.

The affected Aqua Illinois system is based near Midlothian and Old McHenry roads in Hawthorn Woods. It includes two groundwater wells, an ion exchange system to treat the water supply, a 370,000-gallon water storage reservoir and miles of water mains, according to the Lake County public works department's website.

Aqua Illinois intends to build a second pump and well station at the Hawthorn Woods plant to improve service, Bilotta said. Those plans were in the works before the current crisis, he said.

Aqua Illinois has blamed the emergency on three water main leaks and three leaky fire hydrants. The system's water reserves already were low because of the ongoing drought, Aqua has said.

Aqua officials said the company fixed those leaks, but problems persisted Thursday.

"Our neighbors down the street are still without water, and men are working down the street again," Bauer said. "We had water for awhile yesterday then lost it again."

To make up lost volume, water from elsewhere in Aqua's regional service area has been used to fill the local reservoir and help maintain system pressure.

Frustrated customers

As of Thursday morning, Bauer's home had running water. But she remained furious.

"Aqua's service has been awful in the past and their water is terrible, while (we are) paying a fortune for it," she said.

Long Grove Fire Protection District Chief Paul Segalla, who lives in Hawthorn Woods and lost water service for several days, said Aqua hasn't reached out to area fire departments to discuss the possible impact of the emergency on firefighting.

"Aqua has never once (shared) any information about the lack of pressure and volume needed for firefighting," Segalla said.

In the statement on its website, Aqua Illinois said the company has "the tools and water supply to help with fire protection efforts" but didn't elaborate.

'Almost there'

Systemwide, the company has "seen some really great progress," Bilotta said.

"We're almost there," he added.

But resuming water service at all the homes doesn't end the crisis. Because low water pressure can allow contaminants into a supply, people still are being urged to boil water before use or to use bottled water.

Aqua expects the boil water advisory to remain through the weekend.

Bottled water is being provided free to customers at the Hawthorn Woods Aquatic Center, 94 Midlothian Road. "We will continue to provide bottled water at the Hawthorn Aquatic Center until the boil water advisory has been lifted," the statement from Aqua read. Water also is being provided and transported by the Lake County Emergency Management Agency, the Salvation Army and Hawthorn Woods.

The aquatic center actually is part of the problem. It's on Aqua's system, and a water line break there kept the park closed again Thursday.

Crews won't try to find or fix that break until water is fully restored to the nearby communities, Bilotta said.

In addition to boiling tap water, Aqua has been urging affected customers to conserve water. That request became an order Thursday in Hawthorn Woods, where customers have been told to stop using lawn sprinklers until notified.

Repair and service updates from Aqua are available online at aquawater.com/iljuly2023.php.
Go to comments:

0 posted

terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our

FAQ.