Boil Order In Place For Hawthorn Woods, Forest Lake Areas

HAWTHORN WOODS, IL — Lake County and Village of Hawthorn Woods officials announced a precautionary boil order is in effect for the Forest Lake and Hawthorn Woods water systems until at least Wednesday. According to a news release from Lake County Public Works, the alarm and control system for Aqua Illinois — the area's water distributor — went down for a short time at its water station Sunday morning, causing water pressure to fall below 20 psi, therefore leading Lake County Public Works to issue a precautionary boil order for these areas.

On Sunday, the Village of Hawthorn Woods said it was notified that a boil order is in place for all Aqua Illinois and Lake County Public Works water users of the Hawthorn Woods water system.

Customers in the impacted area should bring water to a boil for three to five minutes, and then let it cool before using, according to Lake County Public Works. Another option is to use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and preparing food (until further notice) officials advise.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), here are a few standard recommendations regarding boil water advisories:

• Boil tap water even if it is filtered.
• Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator. (This, in addition to boiling tap water, also applies for pets).
• Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.
• Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
• If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory.
• Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65.55°Celsius), or if the dishwater has a sanitizing cycle.

>> More recommendations

Again, this boil order will remain in effect until at least Wednesday, April 29, as laboratory sampling confirms that water quality has been fully restored.

If you have questions regarding the boil order, please contact your water provider or you may call Lake County Public Works at 847-377-7500 or email publicworks@lakecountyil.gov.