New testing finds Legionella and chlorine concerns in Illinois town's water investigation

Key Points:

• Legionella bacteria was detected in the plumbing system of one home in Beaverville, Illinois, amid ongoing concerns about low chlorine levels in the village's water supply, as revealed by testing from water expert Dr. Marc Edwards.
• Testing showed no detectable chlorine residual in two homes, which experts say can contribute to bacterial growth, although Legionella was found only in Kathleen Butron's residence, where multiple family members became ill.
• The Illinois EPA issued a violation notice to Beaverville for low chlorine residuals, with the U.S. EPA previously citing the village for multiple chlorine level violations over the past 18 months.
• The village attorney stated they were unaware of the test results prior to the report and believe the Legionella finding is isolated, emphasizing ongoing efforts to address water safety and system improvements.
• Beaverville has invested $100,000 in rehabilitating its water system, with no recent reports of discolored water, while health authorities continue to monitor and manage the Legionella concerns.