Great Lakes Article:

Wauconda Residents Worry About Drinking Water
By Mike Parker
CBS2 Chicago
Published August 31st, 2004

WAUCONDA (CBS 2) People in a northwest suburb believe they've got trouble flowing from their tap. They fear their drinking water may contain cancer causing toxins and a landfill may be to blame.

In the 50's, 60's and 70's , a number of companies dumped their toxic waste in a Wauconda landfill. Now some people who live nearby are worried about the federal EPA’s discovery that at least one toxic substance has been found in the underground water pool or aquifer that feeds wells in some areas of town.

"What these folks learned beginning in March of this year is vinyl chloride, which causes cancer is in their drinking water," said Attorney Shawn Collins.

Some 150 families in Wauconda’s Hillcrest subdivision are demanding that the federal government do something to get clean water flowing into the area.

"My taxes have gone up and up while my property value has gone down and down," said resident Karen Thoren-Day.

"The human beings most likely harmed by chemicals like vinyl chloride are these beautiful young children that you see around here," Collins said.

Hillcrest resident Joe Anderson no longer trusts his tap water and now has his children drinking bottled water only. The family goes through a lot of it.

"I’m trying to be a dad, be a father and look out for my kids. And do everything I can to possibly protect them," Anderson said.

Anderson is not alone. Bottled water delivery trucks are a common sight in the subdivision.

The neighbors who've banded together say they're hoping the federal government will help them get Lake Michigan water flowing soon through their taps.

Residents say tapping into the Wauconda municipal supply won't work because the village uses the same underground aquifers they say are contaminated.

A landfill industry group says its testing shows only a few of the wells in the area are slightly above the EPA danger zone for vinyl chloride.