Consumer Law

Illinois AG: Chicago Suburb Supplied Toxic Drinking Water for 20 Years?and Lied About It

By Andy Hoffman

In most locales, it?s polite to offer house guests a cool beverage upon entering?perhaps even a nice refreshing glass of water, straight from the tap.  But this next item has us wondering: what will be the go-to beverage in Crestwood, IL, now that state AG Lisa Madigan has filed a civil suit accusing Crestwood officials of knowingly supplying the community with well water laced with cancer-causing chemicals?

While you?re pondering that, also note that one of the officials being sued, former Crestwood Mayor Chester Stranczek, used to brag about his penchant for ?pinching pennies,? and in particular, for maintaining the lowest water rates in the county.  (Astonishing how much money can be saved by surreptitiously substituting poisonous water for that more expensive fresh stuff!)

According to the lawsuit, 105 monthly reports were sent to the Illinois EPA stating that no water was being pumped from the toxic well.  Officials also signed various "consumer confidence reports" claiming ?all of the village's drinking water came from Lake Michigan.?

Meanwhile, one of the officials named in the lawsuit told the Chicago Tribune that he had known about the use of the poisonous well since 1997.  Needless to say, a federal criminal investigation is currently underway.

Full post as published by ThePopTort on June 10, 2009 (boomark / email).