Water Quality in Palos Hills, IL: 1 Water-System Violation on Record
4 water systems · 1 directly mapped ZIP records
Available EPA records report 1 violations across 1 directly mapped ZIP records with known counts for Palos Hills. This is compliance evidence, not a property-level tap-water verdict.
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Palos Hills
This table shows typed EPA water evidence only. Missing violation counts are displayed as N/A, not zero.
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60465 | 1 | 0 | View report → |
Water Quality Overview
Palos Hills, Illinois has directly mapped EPA water-system data for 1 ZIP codes. This page reports typed compliance facts and does not relabel the multi-source Home Safety Score as a drinking-water grade.
The available EPA records report 1 violation (all classified as monitoring/reporting type in the available record) across 1 directly mapped ZIP record with reported counts.
Lead Levels
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Palos Hills is 0.0008 mg/L; the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to a water system's own 90th-percentile result and is not a safety threshold (EPA's health goal for lead is zero). No exceedances appear among the 1 ZIP records with known lead status.
With 76% of homes built before 1986, Palos Hills has a higher-than-average risk of lead from older plumbing. Lead solder was banned in 1986, and homes built before this date may have lead in pipes, solder joints, or fixtures.
Water Systems Serving Palos Hills
Palos Hills is served by 4 community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. About 18,139 people live in the area (1 ZIP code, Census); this is not the systems' reported service population.
Each water system is identified by a Public Water System ID (PWSID) and is required to:
- Test for over 90 regulated contaminants on a regular schedule
- Report results to the EPA and state regulators
- Issue an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to all customers
- Take corrective action when violations occur
EPA records list 6 enforcement actions against water systems serving Palos Hills. Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
How to Check Your Water in Palos Hills
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup to see your specific water system data, including contaminant levels and violation history
Request your CCR - your water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results for all monitored contaminants
Get a home test - certified kits cost $20–$50 and test for lead, bacteria, and common contaminants. Professional lab tests ($150–$400) cover a broader panel
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can remove specific contaminants. Reverse osmosis removes the broadest range; activated carbon is effective for chlorine and many organics
Check for advisories - monitor your local utility website and local news for boil water advisories or system alerts
Contaminants Detected in Palos Hills Water Systems
The following contaminants have been detected or caused violations across Palos Hills's water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | MCL | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 1 | 1 | No |
The standard column shows the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) except for lead and copper, whose value is an action level that triggers corrective steps and is not an MCL. Health-based violations are MCL, MRDL and treatment-technique violations.
EPA Enforcement History
The EPA and state regulators have taken 6 enforcement actions against water systems serving Palos Hills. Recent actions:
| Date | Action Type |
|---|---|
| 2024-02-27 | State Order Extension |
| 2023-11-06 | State Informal Action |
| 2023-10-11 | State Informal Action |
| 2023-10-11 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2021-01-14 | State Order Extension |
| 2021-01-06 | State Informal Action |
Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties. The most recent action was on 2024-02-27.
Palos Hills vs. Nearby Illinois Cities
How Palos Hills's water quality compares to similar cities in Illinois:
| City | Direct EPA ZIPs | Violations | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palos Hills | 1 | 1 | 4 | 18,139 |
| Hinsdale | 1 | 25 | 5 | 18,097 |
| Franklin Park | 1 | 8 | 4 | 18,059 |
| Streator | 1 | 0 | 1 | 18,236 |
Common Questions About Palos Hills Water
These are the most common questions residents search for about water quality in Palos Hills, Illinois:
Is Palos Hills water hard or soft? Water hardness varies by source. Palos Hills's 4 water systems use multiple sources. Check your ZIP code report for specific hardness data.
Can I drink Palos Hills tap water? City-level EPA records cannot determine safety at a specific tap. No health-based violations are recorded across 1 directly mapped ZIP records with known counts, but this is not a property-level safety guarantee.
What is the best water filter for Palos Hills? A NSF/ANSI 53-certified filter for lead removal is a good general choice. See our Water Filter Matcher for personalized recommendations.
Palos Hills vs. Illinois Average
Understanding how Palos Hills compares to the broader Illinois average helps contextualize your local water quality. Factors like water source, treatment methods, and infrastructure age all contribute to differences between cities in the same state.
To see how individual neighborhoods compare, check the ZIP code reports below - water quality can vary significantly even within Palos Hills.
ZIP Codes in Palos Hills
Palos Hills spans 1 ZIP code. EPA water-system coverage is available for 1 directly mapped ZIP code. Check each ZIP code for detailed contaminant data, violation history, and system information.
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
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO database
- Filter recommendations: NSF/ANSI certified products
Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.