Illinois

Water quality data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System

Lead Risk: Caution

Water Systems

26,675

Active public water systems

Population Served

12.59M

Residents with piped water

Lead Violations

91

Systems exceeding 15 ppb

Copper Violations

465

Lead & Copper Rule

Average Lead Level

2.66 ppb

EPA Action Level: 15 ppb

MCLG (health goal): 0 ppb

0 ppbAction Level: 15 ppb

Average across 2773 systems with reported lead data.

Violations Detected

556 water systems in Illinois have reported violations under the Lead and Copper Rule. These utilities are required to notify customers and take corrective action.

91 lead violations465 copper violations

Water Systems: Highest Lead Levels

System NameCityPopulationLead LevelStatusSample Date
ELGIN114,79751.10 ppbViolation2025-12-31
LOCKPORT23,10033.00 ppbViolation2025-12-31
GODFREY137,57525.00 ppbViolation2025-12-31
BARTLETT41,50024.60 ppbViolation2025-12-31
LIBERTYVILLE20,50024.50 ppbViolation2025-12-31
LEMONT17,50024.00 ppbViolation2025-06-30
AURORA183,00020.60 ppbViolation2025-06-30
NORTH AURORA18,35018.00 ppbViolation2025-06-30
MORTON GROVE25,29717.20 ppbViolation2025-12-31
NORTHBROOK34,40716.00 ppbViolation2025-06-30
HOMEWOOD19,46316.00 ppbViolation2025-12-31
HERRIN12,74716.00 ppbViolation2025-12-31
CALUMET CITY37,00015.40 ppbViolation2025-12-31
PALATINE70,87515.00 ppbOK2025-12-31
EAST MOLINE21,37415.00 ppbOK2025-06-30

Showing top 15 of 2619 systems with lead data. Action level: 15 ppb.

Systems With Active Violations

These water systems have exceeded EPA limits and must take corrective action.

AURORA

AURORA · Pop. 183,000

Lead

Lead: 20.60 ppb (2025-06-30)

ROCKFORD

ROCKFORD · Pop. 147,051

Copper

Lead: 14.00 ppb (2025-06-30)

IL AMERICAN-PEORIA

GODFREY · Pop. 137,575

LeadCopper

Lead: 25.00 ppb (2025-12-31)

ELGIN

ELGIN · Pop. 114,797

Lead

Lead: 51.10 ppb (2025-12-31)

AQUA ILLINOIS-KANKAKEE

KANKAKEE · Pop. 80,000

Copper

Lead: 2.40 ppb (2025-12-31)

DEKALB

DEKALB · Pop. 45,000

Copper

Lead: 11.00 ppb (2025-06-30)

BARTLETT

BARTLETT · Pop. 41,500

Lead

Lead: 24.60 ppb (2025-12-31)

CARPENTERSVILLE

CARPENTERSVILLE · Pop. 37,983

Copper

Lead: 1.60 ppb (2025-12-31)

CALUMET CITY

CALUMET CITY · Pop. 37,000

Lead

Lead: 15.40 ppb (2025-12-31)

NORTHBROOK

NORTHBROOK · Pop. 34,407

Lead

Lead: 16.00 ppb (2025-06-30)

GALESBURG

GALESBURG · Pop. 31,620

Copper

Lead: 0.00 ppb (2025-12-31)

ALGONQUIN

ALGONQUIN · Pop. 30,700

Copper

Lead: 0.00 ppb (2025-12-31)

Water Source Types

Groundwater23844 (91%)
Purchased Groundwater858 (3%)
Purchased Surface Water829 (3%)
Surface Water492 (2%)
Unknown45 (0%)
Purchased GW Under Influence of SW6 (0%)
Groundwater Under Influence of SW5 (0%)

Resources

Air Quality

Good

Avg AQI

45

PM2.5

6.2 µg/m³

Unhealthy Days

5

Primary Pollutant

Ozone

AQI 0 (Good)AQI 100 (Moderate)200+

Source: EPA AirNow & American Lung Association 2024 State of the Air. AQI scale: 0–50 Good · 51–100 Moderate · 101–150 Sensitive Groups · 151+ Unhealthy.

PFAS Contamination

Moderate Detection

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as “forever chemicals,” are a group of synthetic chemicals that persist indefinitely in the environment and human body. The EPA set a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS in April 2024. View national PFAS tracker →

Systems Tested

412

PFAS Detected

148

Detection Rate

35.9%

Exceeding MCL (4 ppt)

32(7.8%)

0%Detection rate: 35.9%100%

Highest recorded level: 62 ppt (EPA MCL: 4 ppt). Large industrial state; Chicago metro area systems affected; large systems flagged by USGS

Data source:EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Lead and Copper Rule monitoring data. Lead levels represent 90th percentile results from the most recent monitoring period. Violations indicate exceedances of EPA action levels requiring corrective action. This tool is for informational purposes only and does not replace your utility's official Consumer Confidence Report.