CEDAR LAKE | A $16,000 state grant announced Thursday help pay for reducing the arsenic levels in the drinking water at Cedar Springs Apartments located on 126th Ave. across from Krystal Oaks subdivision.

Brienne Meehan, the agent for Sheehy Well & Pump, Inc. of Cedar Lake, which is the contracted water operator for the water sytem there, said she appreciates the state's assistance after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reduced the amount of allowable arsenic, both naturally-occurring and otherwise, permitted in a public water system.

The $16,000-plus Arsenic Remediation Grant was awarded by the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA).

According to Cortney Stover, spokesperson for the IFA, the drinking water branch of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management found the arsenic levels of untreated water at the apartment complex were 11 parts per billion.

No more than 10 parts per billion are now allowed by federal standards.

In response to the findings, Cedar Springs has connected to Robin's Nest, a subdivision located nearby which has acceptable levels of arsenic.