2018 WELLNESS
MAGAZINE

The health department promotes safe drinking water

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[March 03, 2018]  Assure safe drinking water - The Logan County Department of Public Health (LCDPH) would like to recognize March 11-17, 2018 as National Groundwater Awareness Week. Whether your water is supplied by your own private well or you are connected to a city supply, all the drinking water in Logan County comes from groundwater. The National Groundwater Association (NGWA) has determined that 44 percent of the U.S. population depends on groundwater for its drinking water supply regardless if it comes from a public source or private well.

Groundwater is vital to everyday life and it is important to keep it safe and protected.

If you consume water from your own private well, it is suggested to have your water analyzed at least once a year. Through the LCDPH, you can have your water tested for coliform bacteria and E.coli. The actual water test is conducted at the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) laboratory but the kit to collect the sample is available at LCDPH for a fee of $8.00.

Coliform is an "indicator" organism that if found to be present in your water sample is a sign your well is contaminated. If your well tests positive for coliform, the lab will further test for E. coli. There are many ways in which wells can become contaminated and just because your well tested satisfactory at a given time does not provide assurance that your water will forever be safe.

Be sure to follow the test kit instructions to assure your sample does not become contaminated and arrives to the lab on time. If your well is contaminated, the health department will provide instructions for how to disinfect the well. In addition to bacteria, nitrate and nitrite levels should be routinely monitored and private laboratories can provide testing for such since this service is no longer available through the IDPH laboratory.

If you have a water well that is no longer in use, State law requires abandoned wells be sealed within 30 days after abandonment. Abandoned wells can provide a direct route of contamination to the aquifer, which is the primary reason the law was enacted.

In addition, it is required that all abandoned wells be sealed in such a manner as to be compliant with State codes. Wells must be sealed by either an Illinois licensed well driller or by the well owner with prior LCDPH approval. Well owners choosing to seal their wells must first complete and submit to the department a sealing request form. This form is available at LCDPH or on their website. Once approved by the department, the owner has permission to seal the well. Regardless of who seals the well, the LCDPH must be on hand to inspect well sealing procedures to assure compliance.

The Mahomet Aquifer is a source of drinking water for many wells located in the northern half of Logan County. According to the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS), arsenic has been found at levels exceeding the maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per billion throughout most of the Mahomet Aquifer.

Arsenic is a contaminant that is a naturally occurring element located in the earth’s crust. Arsenic can be found in deep bedrock, and once it dissolves naturally, it can find its way to groundwater. Arsenic is highly toxic and in drinking water has been linked to various cancers and other ailments.

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If you rely on the Mahomet Aquifer as your source for drinking water, in addition to routine bacterial and nitrate/nitrite sampling, it is recommended you have your well tested for arsenic. A map of the Mahomet Aquifer can be found on the environmental health/potable water page of the LCDPH website.

For more well information including construction regulations and a list of laboratories available to test for arsenic, nitrate and nitrite, you can contact LCDPH at 217-735-2317 or you can visit the health department website at WWW.LCDPH.ORG


[Logan County Department of Public Health/LDN]

Information Sources:
The National Groundwater Association
Illinois State Water Survey
 

Read all the articles in our new
2018 WELLNESS MAGAZINE

Title
CLICK ON TITLES TO GO TO PAGES
Page
SHIFTING TO WELLNESS IN 2018 4
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM INFLUENZA 6
WHO IS AT RISK FOR HEPATITIS C 8
REDUCE YOUR RISK FROM SHINGLES 10
FIT TEST CAN HELP DETECT COLON CANCER 11
RECOVERING AFTER A HOSPITAL STAY 12

 

OSTEOPOROSIS:  A DIFFERENT WAY TO LOOK AT THE LEADING CAUSE 14
QUINOA:  THE COMPLETE PROTEIN WHOLE GRAIN 17
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROMOTES SAFE DRINKING WATER 19
LOVE FACES ALZHEIMER'S, ALZHEIMER'S FACES LOVE 21
OVER 50 AND BETTER THAN EVERY - THE LINCOLN PARK DISTRICT 25
HEARING TECH:  IT AIN'T LIKE GRANDPA'S HEARING AID 31

 

HAND THERAPY AVAILABLE LOCALLY 34
SIU CENTER FOR FAMILY MEDICINE OFFERING MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES IN LINCOLN 35
2018 COMMUNITY WELLNESS EXPO OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF HEALTH RESOURCES TO EVERY AGE 36
FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS ENGAGE IN ACTIVE HEALTH, SAFETY AND FITNESS LEARNING AT 2018 CHILDREN'S WELLNESS EXPO 49
SATURDAY MORNINGS IN THE GROWING SEASON MEANS FRESH LOCAL FOODS AND FUN 62
FITNESS AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES.  WHAT IS THERE TO DO AND WHERE IS IT? 64

 

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