Altamont Officials Assure Water is Safe to Use

A note on the drive-thru at Altamont's McDonald's letting customers know their tea quality is affected

It might be smelly and it might not look good, but city officials say the water in the city of Altamont is safe to use.

Altamont City Clerk Sarah Stephen said the city reservoir needs to settle, and the water should get back to normal.

Stephen said the EPA field tested the water earlier this month, and a private lab was utilized to test for toxins and both tests indicated the water is safe. The Illinois Rural Water Authority has also been to Altamont and the water tested safely.

Stephen said city officials understand it's an inconvenience for customers and that there's more cost involved if you obtain water from elsewhere. She said there's no magic date as to when things will get better.