Macomb, IL – A decision by the Illinois EPA to put the Macomb water system under a boil order took a little more than one full day. That came after the system violated parameters three days before.
Macomb Public Works Director Walter Burnett says crews noticed a rising trend in turbidity levels of the water while they were replacing a sand filter Thursday, Dec. 6.
He says while they were cleansing it late Friday they noticed the turbidity levels went beyond allowable limits, and they notified the EPA on Monday, the next business day. The EPA laboratory works on weekends, but the offices do not.
He says the EPA reviewed the situation, and in a conference call last Tuesday they told Macomb to issue a system-wide boil order.
Burnett says there was a definite violation of allowable turbidity levels in the water, but nothing that would immediately require a boil order.
He says that's because the turbid surface water from the three other sand filters was diluted by about half with water treated by the reverse osmosis equipment.
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Burnett says one sample has been tested and no problems were found. He expects the second sample also to be clear. That would allow the city to lift the boil order. This could happen Saturday afternoon.
He says the plant is now operating within all allowable parameters.
Crews will begin reconstructing what happened next week in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the problem.
Burnett says part of the problem might be the age of the plant and some of its systems.
Speak your piece on the boil order and the city's handling of the situation.