IEPA - SJO Daily

IEPA confirms algal bloom on the Illinois River near Starved Rock

dani — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 19:54:32 +0000

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed the presence of the algal toxin, microcystin, along the northern bank of the Illinois River at the Starved Rock Lock & Dam.

Algal toxins (e.g., microcystin and cylindrospermopsin) sometimes produced by blue-green algae can cause sickness or other adverse health effects in people and pets, depending on the amount and type of exposure. Illinois EPA also tested for, but did not detect the presence of, cylindrospermopsin on the Illinois River.

The very young, elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk if exposed to algal toxins. Adverse health effects attributable to algal toxins can occur from direct skin contact, swallowing contaminated water, or inhaling water droplets in the air. Symptoms of exposure include rashes, hives, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing or wheezing. More severe symptoms may result from longer or greater amounts of exposure.

Residents who plan to recreate in, on, or near Illinois rivers, lakes or streams are advised to avoid contact with water that:

looks like spilled, green or blue-green paint
has surface scums, mats, or films
is discolored or has green-colored streaks
has greenish globs suspended in the water below the surface

Do not let pets drink from water with any of the above characteristics.

If you or your pet have come into contact with water you suspect may have a bloom of blue-green algae, rinse off with clean, fresh water as soon as possible. With all activities that may involve contact with lake or stream water, wash your hands before eating.

If you are concerned you have symptoms that are a result of exposure to algal toxins, contact your health care provider or call the Illinois Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. If your pet experiences symptoms that may be a result of exposure, contact your veterinarian.

Illinois EPA will conduct additional sampling in the coming week to determine if conditions have improved along the Illinois River.

The post IEPA confirms algal bloom on the Illinois River near Starved Rock first appeared on SJO Daily.

Hazardous Waste Collection Day April 4

dani — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 12:26:14 +0000

BY DANI TIETZ dani@sjodaily.com The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) will host a one-day Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event in Champaign one April 4, 2020. Registration for collection is open to all Illinois, but pre-registration, with opens on Feb. 3, must be completed to attend. An Oct. 26, 2019 collection was scheduled but later canceled. Those who had an appointment scheduled for that date can email recycling@champaignil.gov or call 217-403-4780 to schedule a make-up appointment on April 4. A 15-minute time slot between the hours of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be assigned to pre-registrants. Online registration will remain open until all slots are full. Acceptable Items (ONLY THESE ITEMS WILL BE ACCEPTED): Oil-based paints, paint thinners, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, old gasoline & kerosene, pool chemicals, cleaning products, mercury, household batteries, lead-acid batteries, used motor oil, drain cleaners, lawn chemicals, solvents, antifreeze, hobby chemicals, aerosol paints and pesticides, fluorescent lamp bulbs, old and outdated medicines and pharmaceuticals NON-Acceptable Items (THESE ITEMS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED): Latex-based paints*, agricultural chemicals, business/commercial sector wastes, explosives, fireworks, controlled substances, propane tanks, smoke detectors, farm machinery oil, fire extinguishers, institutional wastes, needles and potentially infectious medical wastes *To properly dispose of latex-based paint cans, you need to dry out any remaining paint (using newspaper, kitty litter, sand, etc.) & then, after it is completely dry/empty, you can throw the can into your weekly garbage.

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Bennett’s bill provides new protections for Mahomet Aquifer

dani — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 21:41:31 +0000

BY DANI TIETZ
dani@sjodaily.com

New protections for the Mahomet Aquifer went into effect on Jan. 1.

Senate Bill 2027, proposed by Illinois State Senator Scott Bennett, directs the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to prioritize landfills, especially those that have been unregulated or under-regulated, that sit above the Mahomet Aquifer and may pose a threat to surface water or groundwater resources.

Bennett used recommendations from the Mahomet Aquifer Protection Task Force, which was formed after a gas leak north of Mahomet in 2017, to write the new legislation.

“Considering the Mahomet Aquifer is the most important water source in east-central Illinois, I have worked frequently with the Mahomet Aquifer Task Force to ensure it is protected,” Bennett said. “They are a tremendous group to work with and now we can be assured that 500,000 people know the water coming out of their faucets is clean and safe to drink.”

The new law also seeks to establish a pilot program at the Pekin Metro Landfill to identify potential and current threats to the water quality of the Aquifer from the landfill.

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