Water Quality: Chicago, IL
11 water systems • 2,751,559 people served
Multiple Health ViolationsWater Quality Summary
Chicago is served by 11 public water systems with a combined service population of 2,751,559 people, and has 708 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. Critically, 6 of those are health-based violations, meaning one or more contaminants were detected above EPA-established safe levels — a serious public health concern. Chicago's violation count is 2357% above the national average for Illinois. Contaminants associated with violations include Disinfection Byproducts, Total Organic Carbon.
Contaminants Found
Broad category of chemicals formed during disinfection, associated with increased cancer risk and adverse reproductive effects.
Common source: Reaction of disinfectants (chlorine, ozone, chloramines) with organic matter
Not a direct health risk but reacts with disinfectants to form carcinogenic byproducts such as trihalomethanes.
Common source: Decaying plant material, algae, soil organic matter in source water
EPA limit: Treatment technique (must reduce TOC based on source water level)
Water Systems Serving Chicago
| System Name | PWSID | Source | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHICAGO | IL0316000 | Surface Water | 2,746,388 | 98 |
| BLACKHAWK ESTATES LLC | IL0317765 | Groundwater | 1,238 | 31 |
| SHADY OAKS MHP | IL0635225 | Groundwater | 912 | 110 |
| WILLOWAY TERRACE MHP | IL0317595 | Groundwater | 900 | 8 |
| SUNNY ACRES MHP | IL0915545 | Groundwater | 750 | 2 |
| SHORELINE TRC MHP | IL0975615 | Surface Water | 504 | 1 |
| PLEASANT RIDGE MHP | IL0435945 | Groundwater | 284 | 447 |
| ROLLING GREEN ESTATES MHP | IL1415245 | Groundwater | 191 | 4 |
| ROYAL OAKS MHP | IL1115145 | Groundwater | 170 | 3 |
| HARBOR LITES-PISTAKEE FSHG CL | IL1110011 | Groundwater | 132 | 4 |
| SANDWICH ESTATES MHP | IL0374860 | Groundwater | 90 | 0 |
Concerned About Your Water?
A home water filter can remove common contaminants. NSF-certified filters are tested against EPA standards.
Consider a reverse osmosis system for comprehensive filtration or a carbon filter for basic improvement.
Other Cities in Illinois
Data Sources
Drinking water violation data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Data includes all recorded violations for active community water systems.