(415 ILCS 5/18.1)

Sec. 18.1. Public Notice.

(a) If any of the actions listed in paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection (a) occur in relation to the ownership or operation of a community water system, the Agency shall, within 2 days after the action, provide public notice of the action by issuing a press release and posting the press release on the Agency's website:

(1) The Agency refers a matter for enforcement under Section 43 of this Act.

(2) The Agency issues a seal order under subsection (a) of Section 34 of this Act.

(b) Within 5 days after the occurrence of any action that is listed in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this Section and that is related to the ownership or operation of a community water system, the Agency must provide notice of the action to the owner and the operator of the community water system and the owners and operators of all connected community water systems. The notice must be printed on Agency letterhead and describe the action being taken and the basis for the action. Within 5 business days after receiving such notice from the Agency under this subsection (b), the owner or operator of the community water system and the owners or operators of all connected community water systems must send, to all residents and owners of premises connected to the affected community water system or portion thereof designated by the Agency: (i) a copy of the notice by first-class mail or by e-mail; or (ii) notification, in a form approved by the Agency, via first-class postcard, text message, or telephone; except that notices to institutional residents, including, but not limited to, residents of school dormitories, nursing homes, and assisted care facilities, may be made to the owners and operators of those institutions, and the owners or operators of those institutions shall notify their residents in the same manner as prescribed in this subsection for owners and operators of community water systems. If the manner for notice selected by the owner or operator of the community water system does not include a written copy of the notice provided by the Agency, the owner or operator shall include a written copy of the notice provided by the Agency in the next water bill sent to the residents and owners of the premises; provided, however, if the water bill is sent on a postcard, no written copy of the notice provided by the Agency is required if the postcard includes the Internet address for the notice posted on the Agency's website. The front of the envelope or postcard in which any such notice is sent to residents and owners of premises connected to the community water system shall carry the following text in at least 18 point font: PUBLIC HEALTH NOTICE - READ IMMEDIATELY. For a postcard, text message, or telephonic communication, the Agency shall specify the minimum information that the owner or operator must include in such methods of notice. Within 7 days after the owner or operator of the community water system sends the notices to all residents and owners of premises connected to the affected community water system, the owner or operator shall provide the Agency with proof that the notices have been sent.

(Source: P.A. 96-603, eff. 8-24-09.)