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Des Plaines, IL Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Des Plaines, IL — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Des Plaines's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Des Plaines PWSID: IL0310630 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 11.10 ppb, 74% of the action level and no violations are open. No PFAS was detected.

B

Des Plaines earns a B for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 11.10 ppb — 74% of the federal action level
PFAS tested, none detected
5 violations since 2015, 0 health-based
No violations currently open
Des Plaines's lead level vs. all Illinois community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 11.10 ppb — 74% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 5% of Illinois utilities
Population Served
55291
~17080 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
Active Violations
0
5 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
74% of EPA action level
11.10 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 11.10 ppb, 74% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2026 Unaddressed
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS REPORTING FAILURE — — 2025 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2025 Unaddressed
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2024 Unaddressed
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2018 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

5 violations are on record since 2015, of which 0 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Des Plaines
PWSID IL0310630
Water source Surface water — Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
Population served 55,291
Service connections 17,080
Systems serving this area 8
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Des Plaines tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 11.10 ppb, 74% of the action level.
Does Des Plaines water have PFAS? ▼
It was tested for the six regulated PFAS compounds and none were detected.
Who supplies water to Des Plaines? ▼
Des Plaines (PWSID IL0310630), one of 8 systems serving this area. Surface water. Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2026-01-26. Inspectors recorded 2 significant deficiencies.

What Should Des Plaines Residents Do?

1
Consider a filter certified for lead
Look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for lead reduction.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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