Will County Gazette

At the October 27th workshop meeting, the City of Crest Hill reviewed possible short-term approaches to manage PFAS levels in its water supply. The city is planning to switch to the Lake Michigan Water Supply in 2030, but until then, interim solutions are being considered.

During the meeting, five alternatives were presented, each with estimated timelines and cost comparisons. The city council chose to proceed with Alternative 1, which involves reducing or eliminating the use of certain wells that have higher PFAS readings through a 24-hour operation schedule. Staff and water operators have been directed to develop a plan to reduce or stop using these specific wells. Implementation of this strategy is expected to begin in early 2026.

Ongoing PFAS testing will continue at times yet to be determined throughout the year. This monitoring aims to confirm whether PFAS levels decrease as affected wells are removed from service or their output is blended with other sources.

The council also asked staff to begin discussions on Alternative 2, which proposes installing Granular Activated Carbon treatment systems at selected well sites. Staff members are gathering information required for a pilot program mandated by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). Once all necessary details are compiled, this proposal will be brought back for further discussion at a future workshop. If approved by the council, the pilot program would take about one year to complete. Discussions on this pilot initiative are expected in January 2026.

For more details and access to the full presentation outlining these options and strategies, residents can visit https://cityofcresthill.com/293/Future-Water-Supply.