Bethalto residents concerned over brown water, EPA steps in

MADISON COUNTY, Ill - Bethalto residents are experiencing brown water from their taps, prompting an investigation by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

City leaders have assured residents that the water is safe to drink despite its appearance, attributing the discoloration to sediment from an old water system.

"I went to fill up my water bottle, and it was completely brown," said Alisa Monroe, a longtime Bethalto resident. "How is drinking something that color safe?"

The Illinois EPA has tested the water in Bethalto for three days after concerns were raised by residents and local lawmakers.

Rod Cheatham, the village's public works director, stated that the village is working to find a solution.

"The Village appreciates all your concerns and is working diligently to provide the best water possible," Cheatham said. "Rest assured we will not stop until that goal is achieved."

Amy Gibbons, who works at the village library, expressed understanding of the residents' frustration, noting that Bethalto is a nice community that deserves nice water.

Monroe, who is currently relying on bottled water, urged city leaders to find a solution.

"Find a solution, fix it. Because this is a great town, we love it here," Monroe said. "But we want safe water; we deserve safe water."

While the EPA has not flagged the water as unsafe, residents like Monroe remain skeptical and await the results of the ongoing investigation.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTVI. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTVI staff before being published.