Exceeds EPA Limit Radium EXCEEDS EPA LIMIT

Radium in Lake Villa, IL Drinking Water

Radium data for Lake Villa, Illinois · 34,708 residents · 1 ZIP code

ZipCheckup's reading of Radium in Lake Villa, Illinois: the highest detected level is 6.92 pCi/L; the EPA limit is 5 pCi/L (combined Ra-226 + Ra-228). Radium carries a high health-risk designation.

Federal water monitoring extends to thousands of public water systems, and in Lake Villa, Illinois, that tracking has turned up Radium - the detection is logged in the EPA compliance record and reflects samples collected under routine Safe Drinking Water Act reporting requirements.

6.92 pCi/L
Max Level Detected
6.92 pCi/L
Average Level
5 pCi/L (combined Ra-226 + Ra-228)
EPA MCL
High
Health Risk
Reverse Osmosis or Ion Exchange
Best Filter Method

Data: EPA SDWIS, CCR Reports, ECHO Last verified: 2026-07-13

Radium in Lake Villa Tap Water

Radium has been detected in Lake Villa, Illinois drinking water at a maximum level of 6.92 pCi/L — relative to the EPA MCL of 5 pCi/L (combined Ra-226 + Ra-228).

This analysis covers 34,708 residents across 1 ZIP code in Lake Villa.

Lake Villa's overall water quality grade is B (78/100).

Is Radium in Lake Villa Water Safe?

Radium levels in parts of Lake Villa exceed the EPA MCL of 5 pCi/L (combined Ra-226 + Ra-228). The EPA requires water systems to take corrective action when this limit is exceeded.

If you live in an affected ZIP code, consider installing a reverse osmosis or ion exchange filter certified under NSF 58 and testing your water independently.

Radium Levels by ZIP Code

ZIP Code Radium Level EPA Limit Status
60046 6.92 pCi/L 5 pCi/L (combined Ra-226 + Ra-228) Not comparable

Average radium level across Lake Villa: 6.92 pCi/L

Health Effects of Radium

  • Increased risk of bone cancer (radium accumulates in bones)
  • The body treats radium like calcium, storing it in bones
  • Lifetime cancer risk of ~1 in 10,000 at 5 pCi/L
  • No safe threshold for radioactive contamination

Health risk severity: High. Governed by the Radionuclides Rule.

How Radium Gets Into Drinking Water

  • Natural radioactive decay in underground rock formations
  • Groundwater sources (especially deep wells)
  • Mining and industrial waste
  • Higher in regions with specific geology (Midwest, parts of South)

What to Do About Radium in Lake Villa Water

  1. Reverse osmosis (NSF 58 certified) removes 90%+ of radium
  2. Ion exchange (water softeners) can reduce radium
  3. Point-of-use RO at kitchen tap is most cost-effective
  4. GAC filters alone are NOT effective for radium

Look for filters certified under NSF 58 for radium removal.

Related

Home → Contaminants → Radium → Illinois → Lake Villa

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Radium in Lake Villa, IL Drinking Water. https://zipcheckup.com/contaminants/radium/lake-villa-il/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-contaminants-radium-lake-villa-il,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Radium in Lake Villa, IL Drinking Water}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/contaminants/radium/lake-villa-il/}
}

Data as of July 2026.

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