SAUK VILLAGE | The Illinois Department of Public Health is advising residents who get their drinking water from private wells in the Sauk Village area to test their water for possible groundwater contamination.

Routine testing of Sauk Village's municipal water wells by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency indicates contaminants could be present in the area's private wells, according to a news release from the state health department.

The advisory affects persons with private wells in the Sauk Village, Ford Heights and Lynwood areas. They are encouraged to have their water tested for volatile organic compounds by a private laboratory.

The contaminant, vinyl chloride, was detected in Sauk Village's untreated well water at a level higher than the Illinois Groundwater Standard, which is 2 micrograms per liter. The contaminant cis-1,2 dichloroethylene was detected in the untreated well water at a level lower than the Illinois Groundwater Standard, which is 70 micrograms per liter. Although the level of cis-1,2 dichloroethylene was lower than the standard, this is the same groundwater that serves private wells and it is possible its levels may be higher in private wells.

For a list of laboratories certified to analyze drinking water for volatile organic compounds, interpretation of test results, contaminant health effects information and recommendations for individuals who regularly consume well water, contact Joe O'Connor, of the health department's West Chicago Regional Office, 245 W. Roosevelt Road, Building 5, West Chicago, IL 60185 or phone him at (630) 293-6800 or e-mail at joe.o'connor@illinois.gov.

The state health department says the risk of adverse health effects depends on the level of contaminants in the water and the length of exposure. Long-term exposure to these chemicals may increase the risk of liver and kidney effects.

The health department says water supplied by Sauk Village's community water supply currently meets all U.S. EPA drinking water standards. While no violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act Maximum Contaminant Levels have occurred in Sauk Village's treated drinking water, the annual average concentration of vinyl chloride is close to violating the standard.

For information concerning the community water supply, contact Carol L. Fuller, community relations coordinator, Office of Community Relations, Illinois EPA at (217) 524-8807 or e-mail at carol.fuller@illinois.gov.