Hoffman Estates, IL Water Safety: 81/100 (2026)
3 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Water utilities in Hoffman Estates have maintained a consistent compliance record over recent monitoring periods — the city's above-average grade in IL reflects low violation rates and no systemic health concerns flagged in current data.
How Hoffman Estates Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Hoffman Estates Water: The Quick Version
- Average lead level: 0.0018 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 67% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.18.
Water Systems Serving Hoffman Estates
3 independent water providers serve Hoffman Estates, IL — 5 systems appear in federal records.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Hoffman Estates, Illinois (population ~50,191), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 290,630 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Hoffman Estates — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Hoffman Estates: B (81/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Hoffman Estates water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0018 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 3 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60169 | B | Hoffman Estates | 50,179 |
| 60179 | B | Hoffman Estates | 50,179 |
| 60192 | B | Hoffman Estates | 50,179 |
All ZIP Codes in Hoffman Estates
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Hoffman Estates
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
How Old Is Hoffman Estates's Housing Stock?
With 67% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Lead solder was standard in copper plumbing until federally banned in 1986; lead pipes were common in service lines pre-1970. Hoffman Estates's median build year of 1980 reflects a housing stock where these older materials are a pervasive feature — not a rare legacy — of the residential plumbing landscape.
Over half of homes in Hoffman Estates were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Hoffman Estates: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The household financial picture for Hoffman Estates homeowners is proportionally favorable — addressing documented issues claims a small slice of equity, and the cost-to-value ratio puts this area well within the manageable tier.
Remediation costs in Hoffman Estates are relatively low compared to home values. The $267–$1,400 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 125% above the Illinois average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Hoffman Estates
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Routinely in Hoffman Estates, where 67% of housing predates the solder ban and aggregate utility readings hover near the federal threshold, a faucet-level draw functions as a standard household step for families with small kids.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Hoffman Estates
The National Flood Insurance Program captures decades of claims at the local level, building a record of cumulative community flood exposure. For Hoffman Estates, that record documents 15 claims and 33% of ZIP codes inside FEMA-designated flood zones. What makes those numbers relevant to water quality is the set of mechanisms flooding activates: heavy precipitation that floods treatment intake zones can introduce contaminants upstream of normal filtration; well casings in low-lying areas can be infiltrated by floodwaters carrying bacteria, sediment, and chemical residue; and distribution system pressure changes during flooding can create backflow conditions. These effects become more probable as flood frequency and magnitude increase — and the NFIP record indicates both are meaningful factors locally.
Hoffman Estates has a moderate flood history with 15 FEMA claims averaging $11,079 per payout. 33% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$800</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Hoffman Estates, IL