LIVING HERE
A “Do Not Drink” order in Williams Bay was lifted Friday after the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources confirmed water quality had returned to safe levels for all residents.
Village officials reported encouraging news as they awaited final test results that would lift the order. Village leaders were happy to announce that the latest round of tests returned with all nine samples below maximum nitrate levels. The Walworth County Department of Health said two cases of methemoglobinemia, known as “blue baby syndrome,” triggered the investigation that led to the order.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued the emergency order after tests confirmed dangerously high levels of nitrites in the water system, affecting approximately 3,000 residents. The village issued a letter warning residents not to drink tap water or use it for cooking due to contamination. According to the Department of Health Services, potential health impacts can be serious, including blue baby syndrome, birth defects, and increased risk of some cancers. Infants and people who are pregnant women may be at higher risk for health effects.
BID INTERVIEW:
“I’ve been part of the library for 22 years now—hard to believe! When I moved here from Chicago back in 2001, I barely knew anyone. I saw a little ad in the paper (yes, the actual newspaper!) for a library job, and thought, why not? It turned out to be the best decision.
Over the years, I’ve seen huge changes—like when our library became part of the larger consortium. Now, one card lets you check out books all over the region, which is amazing. I also love our outreach work—the bookmobile started when the library was under renovation, and it just stuck. Now you’ll spot me everywhere: at the Y, Piggly Wiggly, the farmers market… sometimes I joke that I’m the library on wheels.
What I love most is the community. My kids grew up coming here—sometimes they’d even wave at me on class visits, which was the sweetest. And even now, they still stop in. That’s what makes Lake Geneva special. I may miss pieces of Chicago, but I definitely don’t miss the traffic! Here, life is calmer, slower, and I can walk home in two minutes.
So, if you see me around town, stop by and say hi. Chances are, I’ll have the latest new releases with me!” – Maria Cordova, Lake Geneva Public Library
