For 20 years, town used contaminated well for water.

[Anti Federalist]

Poison in the well (click for full story)

Crestwood officials cut corners and supplied residents with tainted water for 2 decades

By Michael Hawthorne | Tribune reporter
April 19, 2009

Like every town across the nation, south suburban Crestwood tucks a notice into utility bills each summer reassuring residents their drinking water is safe. Village leaders also trumpet the claim in their monthly newsletter, while boasting they offer the cheapest water rates in Cook County.

But those pronouncements hide a troubling reality: For more than two decades, the 11,000 or so residents in this working-class community unknowingly drank tap water contaminated with toxic chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems, a Tribune investigation found.

As village officials were building a national reputation for pinching pennies, and sending out fliers proclaiming Crestwood water was "Good to taste but not to waste!," state and village records obtained by the newspaper show they secretly were drawing water from a contaminated well, apparently to save money.

Officials kept using the well even though state environmental officials told them at least 22 years ago that dangerous chemicals related to a dry-cleaning solvent had oozed into the water, records show.

The village avoided scrutiny by telling state regulators in 1986 that they would get all of their tap water from Lake Michigan, and would use the well only in an emergency. But records show Crestwood kept drawing well water on a routine basis—relying on it for up to 20 percent of the village's water supply some months.

The well wasn't shut off for good until December 2007, after the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency tested the water for the first time in more than 20 years. The agency found not only that the well was still contaminated but that Crestwood had been piping the water, untreated, to residents.

[Dripping Rain]

do people still call towns villages? thats like so oldschool. back to the article. this is what blindly trusting the gubament brings

[torchbearer]

do people still call towns villages? thats like so oldschool. back to the article. this is what blindly trusting the gubament brings

i think they are technical references.
A village is smaller than a town, a town is smaller than a city. etc.

[Dripping Rain]

i think they are technical references.
A village is smaller than a town, a town is smaller than a city. etc.

thanks for the correction torchie. i thought village was an old world or a place in a 3d world country

[Anti Federalist]

i think they are technical references.
A village is smaller than a town, a town is smaller than a city. etc.

The "village" moniker seems unique to Illinois.

Village = Town

You know, county = parish.

[torchbearer]

The "village" moniker seems unique to Illinois.

Village = Town

You know, county = parish.

here, the 'moniker' is reference via size of community.
it is even denoted on the incorporation limit signs.
"The Village of Cheneyville"
"The Town of Alexandria"
"The City of New Orleans"

[Anti Federalist]

here, the 'moniker' is reference via size of community.
it is even denoted on the incorporation limit signs.
"The Village of Cheneyville"
"The Town of Alexandria"
"The City of New Orleans"

I hadn't ever seen that in all my years down in LA.

Or at least an "official" village name and I've certainly passed through enough to be termed a village, Patterson, Avery Island, Cameron, Golden Meadow, LaRose...come to mind.

Learn sumpin' new every day.

[torchbearer]

I hadn't ever seen that in all my years down in LA.

Or at least an "official" village name and I've certainly passed through enough to be termed a village, Patterson, Avery Island, Cameron, Golden Meadow, LaRose...come to mind.

Learn sumpin' new every day.

I'm hyper-vigilant, I notice these things... and asked the questions- why.
The place I come from is considered a non-incorporated farm community.

[asimplegirl]

here, the 'moniker' is reference via size of community.
it is even denoted on the incorporation limit signs.
"The Village of Cheneyville"
"The Town of Alexandria"
"The City of New Orleans"

Yep.. I grew up in a village, inside of a town. The town had a total of about 7 villages....or communities, if you wish. These totaled about 700 people. The one I lived in had about 70. No police department, no grocery stores, no stop lights or signs...just grass, woods, water, and a school. LOL.

[Objectivist]

here, the 'moniker' is reference via size of community.
it is even denoted on the incorporation limit signs.
"The Village of Cheneyville"
"The Town of Alexandria"
"The City of New Orleans"

This doesn't hold factual when the term village is a geographical one. The population of Sand City, California is 250 people. The terms are regional. Like some areas use Sheriff and others use Constable. Then you know about Parishes and I live in a County.

[ItsTime]

I hope they sue.

OT: There is a village in my town.

[Objectivist]

I hope they use.

OT: There is a village in my town.

I would think so in New Hampshire.

[PatriotLegion]

I live within a town that has about half a million residents and has 8 villages (incorporated) and 52 Hamlets (unincorporated), which is called the Town of Brookhaven, within Suffolk County in New York State.

Just to confuse things more village = town = hamlet?

[Barackistan]

Wow. That is revolting. I live literally 5-10 miles from Crestwood, and I couldn't imagine the public sector considering doing this. But since all the water reclamation plants are owned by the state, there really is no way to resolve this other than going to SCOTUS.

People v. State of IL?