Issues with unsafe drinking water from Aqua Illinois in the south suburbs have now expanded to University Park, Illinois, as Governors State University sent out an alert to its community Monday morning.

The university said a drinking water alert has been issued for the University Park area due to elevated levels of nitrates in the Kankakee River, which may be harmful to infants under 6 months old. The alert also warns not to boil the water, as boiling water can actually worsen the elevated nitrate levels.

Water with elevated nitrate levels is also unsafe for pregnant women and people with certain health conditions.

Aqua Illinois said the nitrate issue is unprecedented, but water issues in University Park are not. People in University Park have already been dealing with water issues for years.

In University Park, residents are under a drinking water alert and are stuck picking up bottles.

"The water sucks," said Josephine Bernald.

Residents say they are all too familiar with such alerts.

"Now they're only giving one case of water per household," said Melinda Aldaco.

CBS News Chicago has been reporting on water issues specifically in University Park for several years. Back in 2019, many residents relied on bottled water for months after officials learned many households' tap water was contaminated with lead.

Now, the issue is with nitrates.

"Aqua Illinois has never before experienced a nitrate exceedance at our Kankakee Water Treatment Plant," the company said Friday. "It is our assessment that spring fertilization and recent rains caused elevated nitrate levels in the river. Because of the unprecedented nature of this incident, we will be providing bottled water to certain high-risk customers in the impacted service area."

Some residents are skeptical.

"The farmers have been here for 50 years using fertilizer!" said Bob Deckinga. "I think that's a bunch of baloney!"

The utility provider said bottled water should be used to prepare formula for infants. Generally, infants under 6 months old should not drink water outside of what is found in breastmilk or used for formula, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

A health alert said infants under 6 months with elevated nitrate levels "could experience shortness of breath and blue color on the skin. If you notice this, seek medical attention immediately."

Residents who are pregnant or have specific health conditions are told to consult their doctors.

But people are being told not to boil the water, as it can make the nitrate issue worse.

"Here we are again," said University Park Mayor Joseph E. Roudez III. "So they make the statement that it's OK for people over 6 months of age to drink it? Well, that's crap. And I wouldn't drink it myself."

CBS News Chicago brought Roudez's concerns, and residents' concerns, directly to the Aqua Illinois president David Carter.

"This issue is something that's sort of an act of God kind of issue. It's out of our control," Carter said. "We don't control river conditions."

Carter was asked about residents' requests for relief on their bills this month.

"The only usage that really should be curtailed is for infants under 6 months of age, and we're providing bottled water for that purpose," Carter said. "All other uses for water are acceptable and there's no curtailment there, so we will not be adjusting bills for that."

Aqua's president said based on levels in the river now, they could lift the drinking water alert in the next couple days. Mayor Roudez wants more action than that.

"My ask of the company is to come to the table and give us the opportunity to purchase back the water rights," Roudez said. 

CBS News Chicago asked the President of Aqua Illinois, David Carter, about Roudez's remark.

"I can't make any comment on the mayor's actions there," he said. "I can only comment that we are confident we have been providing safe and clean water of drink there and this was an issue that was out of our control." 

Aqua Illinois said it is distributing bottled water to people affected. For more information, contact Aqua Illinois at 877-987-2782.