The Barrington Hills Observer

Nearly all homes in Barrington Hills rely on their own wells for their daily household water requirements.  Homeowners sometimes take for granted that their water is free from harmful substances and is safe to drink.  However it is us, the private well owners, who are responsible for periodically testing our water for contaminants.  The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) recommends annual testing for coliform bacteria and nitrates, and BACOG (the Barrington Area Council of Governments) has been assisting residents by conducting a semi-annual private well-water testing program.

Last Monday, November 14, was the drop-off deadline for water samples for the latest test program, but Village residents were likely unaware of that, once again due to the woeful lack of communications emanating from our Village Hall.

Despite the fact that President Abboud regularly gives lip service and photo opportunities (right) to the importance of BACOG facilitating testing our groundwater supply, there was no mailing to residents to notify them of the water test program dates and no notification posted on any of the Village websites.  There is a brief mention of the BACOG test program buried in the latest Village newsletter, but that, unfortunately, was too little and too late for the majority of residents.

It is baffling why our Village wasn’t more proactive in encouraging residents to participate in this program.  Surely it couldn’t be the cost of even a simple post card mailing since the Village has sent out correspondence between newsletters informing residents on varied topics like roadside trash pick-up events, the 2010 Census, McHenry County property tax bills and even the lighting ordinance.  But in this case, a fundamental Village resource issue like well water testing doesn’t deserve a mailing to each and every household by our Village?

The Observer hopes that the Village will do a better job promoting the BACOG test program in the future as well as other resources available to residents.   In the meantime, residents can visit http://bacog.org/watertesting.html to sign up for notification of next year’s testing events.  In addition, Lake and McHenry Counties offer year round well water testing.  For more information go to:

http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/health/Pages/EHlabservices.aspx

http://www.lakecountyil.gov/Health/want/Pages/WaterWells.aspx

     – The Observer