Retention Pond Reportedly Making Local Residents Sick

NAPERVILLE, IL — Neighbors in a Wheatland Township subdivision are claiming that a nearby retention pond is making them sick.

Naperville residents Kevin Stearns and his fiancee Amy Sutton used to love being outside by the pool, but that’s changed after a mist of what they say is toxic water has been making them sick, according to an article from the Chicago Tribune.

“The spray is coming from the aerator in the pond they insist has unsafe levels of E coli and fecal coli-form that's left nasty black mold on their fences, sheds, patio furniture and concrete. Even worse, those mold spores, they believe, are making them and some of their neighbors sick, and has even affected the couple's two small dogs,” the article said.

Their next door neighbor, Ted Rachlitz, said he’s been wearing a mask and respirator to mow the lawn after he began developing sinus and respiratory problems.

"After they started the spray, I took a trip to New Mexico for 10 days," he told the paper. "And all the symptoms cleared up."

Wheatland Township Highway Commissioner Bill Alstrom recently took a sample of the water and found an “unsatisfactory” E coli count, according to the article.

Meanwhile, a spokesman with the Will County Health Department said it’s the first time he’s received a complaint of that type.

City of Naperville spokeswoman Linda LaCloche said a water sample showed E coli in the acceptable range.

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