On February 3, 2025, residents of Illinois Wesleyan reported tap water tasting and smelling slightly different. While some presumed perhaps a mold outbreak was underway through campus water supplies, Illinois Wesleyan Physical Plant and the City of Bloomington have reassured students this is not the case.
Ed Andrews, Director of the Bloomington Water Department informed residents that the city is now supplying water to businesses and households within the city from Lake Evergreen, one of two man-made lakes in McLean County. Edwards reported that the city was previously drawing from Lake Bloomington, but the lake is down 7.6 feet from its usual levels, which prompted the city to make the switch.
“We want to prepare ourselves for the next rain event so we’re not having water go over the spillway at one lake because it’s still at a higher volume elevation than Lake Bloomington, which is down considerably,” Andrews said.
Andrews said that people can taste a difference between the lakes’ water because Lake Evergreen has higher concentrations of trace compounds (elements like iron, fluoride, zinc, etc.) which may also give it a more earthy odor. The water still meets the Environmental Protection Agency standards for drinking water quality, and Andrews said with time people will grow used to the differences.
“We knew it was going to generate the complaints that it did, but from a volumetric standpoint, to position ourselves so we get full recharge on that lake, we have to balance the volume in both lakes to meet that portion of the demand,” Andrews said.
Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe supported the decision, saying that having a reliable water supply helps city operations meet existing demands and provide room for further economic growth.
“It’s one of the things that people look at when they’re thinking about locating their businesses here. It’s very important for them to know that, yes, we do have not only enough water, but we also have a system that can distribute that efficiently and effectively,” Mwilambwe said.
City officials expect that rainfall and snowmelt over the winter season will refill Lake Bloomington to acceptable levels.
Illinois Wesleyan Physical Plant Director Kenton Frost also squashed any additional fears of molds on campus and shared their procedure for dealing with them.
“Any mold concerns that are brought to the Physical Plant’s attention are addressed immediately by our staff and then elevated to an industrial hygienist for testing purposes if needed,” Frost said. “Molds that are found on campus are cleaned up by our staff and are not harmful. Fortunately, regarding the water taste, there is nothing to worry about.”