The Problem
Toxic groundwater is being pumped into the Izaak Walton Prairie Lakes from Homewood Disposal’s headquarters. Homewood Disposal’s headquarters on 175th sits on top of a site that has contaminated ground water. A sump pump transfers this contaminated ground water to a drain in Izaak Walton’s Prairie Lakes, endangering people, pets, and wildlife.
The Village of Homewood is permitted by the Illinois EPA to manage stormwater discharge in the village, and the Village is responsible for monitoring the discharge to make sure it doesn’t contain hazardous chemicals. The Village has not been monitoring properly and has been receiving resident complaints about this pollution for years!
Our Solution
The Village of Homewood should immediately stop toxic, cancerous polluted groundwater from flowing into the Prairie Lakes via the Village owned and managed storm drain.
Comprehensive water and sediment sampling in the entire Prairie Lakes system.
Remediate the Prairie Lakes
Prevent future pollution
Prairie Lakes 2002 - 2 years before construction of Homewood Disposal HQ on 175th.
Prairie Lakes NW Pond, May 2008 - 2 years after construction of Homewood Disposal HQ on 175th.
Timeline
2004: Homewood Disposal headquarters built on 175th.
Stormwater from the development discharges into the Izaak Walton Prairie Lakes. Specifically a municipal storm drain in the Northwest Pond. The Village of Homewood is responsible for annually inspecting storm drains for illicit discharge.
2005: Discoloration is visible on the water’s surface.
Satellite images like the ones above clearly show the pollution in the Northwest Pond, and a clear timeline of when it began.
2022, March: The Izaak Walton Board files a complaint with the Illinois EPA.
Despite direction from the Illinois EPA, the Village of Homewood FAILED TO TEST the ponds and TOOK NO ACTION to stop the pollution.
2023, November: Izaak Walton Foundation pays for water and sediment testing.
The Izaak Walton Board pays $6,500 to Bryan Environmental Consultants for professional testing. The Village of Homewood Department of Public works pledges to pay half via email, but has not reimbursed Izaak Walton to date.
2024, February: Test results confirm the existence of toxic pollution.
The report from Bryan Environmental Consultants clearly showed high levels of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), known human carcinogens. There was also evidence of dangerous heavy metals and other substances that require additional testing.