January 2020 Community Updates
1/2/2020 - As you settle into the new year, if you are under the advisory, we would like to remind you about important steps to take to protect your household from lead if you have been away from home for the holidays.
- First, remove and clean the aerators on your faucets. Over time, tiny particles of lead can break off and get trapped in the small attachments at the tip of your faucets, eventually contaminating the water.
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Second, with the aerators still removed, run your cold tap water for 30 minutes from all faucets in the home to flush out old water that has been sitting in your pipes. Replace the aerators when the whole-house flush is completed.
1/6/2020 - If you remain under the advisory, it is important that you continue regularly using your tap water so our treatment can take effect.
1/16/20 - If you are under the advisory, we want to remind you it is important that you replace your filters as needed to ensure proper use.
For the faucet filter, start planning to replace the filter once the indicator light flashes yellow. When the indicator light is red, it is time to replace the filter. Be sure to follow all manufacturers’ instructions included with the faucet and pitcher filters to determine when you need a replacement.
We are continuing to offer free filter replacements so you can consume your cold tap water if you run it for two to three minutes and filter it through filters that are certified by the NSF to remove lead. You can always heat up your filtered, cold tap water prior to consumption.
For distribution center hours, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency guidance on how to use your water under the advisory and the latest information, please continue to visit WaterFactsIL.com. If you have questions, you can reach us at 877.987.2782.
Thank you for your continued patience as we build on our progress in your community.
1/31/2020 - If you are under the advisory, we want you to know that running cold tap water from your kitchen sink an extra 30 minutes a day, in addition to your regular water use, will allow the treatment to take effect in your home and help us resolve this situation in your community.
Running your water moves the treatment through the system so the treatment can rebuild the protective coating in your home’s internal plumbing. More water use will speed up this process.