North Chicago, IL Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: North Chicago PWSID: IL0971250 Updated: 2026 Q2

✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead was not detected and no violations are open. No PFAS was detected.

North Chicago earns a B for water quality

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

Lead: not detected

PFAS tested, none detected

8 violations since 2015, 2 health-based

No violations currently open

North Chicago's lead level vs. all Illinois community water systems

0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb

Lead level: Not detected — 0% of the federal action level

✓ Lower lead than % of Illinois utilities

Population Served

29240

~4211 connections

Water Source

Surface water

Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW

Active Violations

8 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)

90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system

0% of EPA action level

Not detected

Action level: 15 ppb

Lead was not detected at the 90th percentile — the result fell below the laboratory detection limit. That is not the same as an absence of lead in every tap, and older homes with lead service lines can still show higher readings.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

Contaminant	Type	Measured	Limit	Period	Status
Lead and Copper Rule	MONITORING AND REPORTING	—	TT	2025	Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule	OTHER	—	—	2025	Unaddressed
Public Notice	OTHER	—	—	2024	Resolved
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate	MCL EXCEEDANCE	8 UG/L	0.006 mg/L	2024	Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule	MONITORING AND REPORTING	—	TT	2023	Resolved
TTHM	MCL EXCEEDANCE	0.083 MG/L	0.080 mg/L	2023	Resolved
TTHM	MONITORING AND REPORTING	—	0.080 mg/L	2019	Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	MONITORING AND REPORTING	—	0.060 mg/L	2019	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

8 violations are on record since 2015, of which 2 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility North Chicago

PWSID IL0971250

Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW

Population served 29,240

Service connections 4,211

Systems serving this area 6

Regulator State primacy agency

Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is North Chicago tap water safe to drink? ▼

No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open.

Does North Chicago water have PFAS? ▼

It was tested for the six regulated PFAS compounds and none were detected.

Who supplies water to North Chicago? ▼

North Chicago (PWSID IL0971250), one of 6 systems serving this area. Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW

When was this system last inspected? ▼

It was last inspected on 2025-10-27. Inspectors recorded 2 significant deficiencies.

What Should North Chicago Residents Do?

Read your annual water report

Your supplier publishes a Consumer Confidence Report each July covering the prior year.

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.

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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