Lake County, Illinois
32 ZIP codes · Avg score 63/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Current EPA records place Lake County in the middle tier for drinking water safety, with 32 ZIP codes showing a range of outcomes.
How Lake County Compares
How Lake County Compares
Lake County scores 2 points above the Illinois state average (61/100) and 5 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Lake County, Illinois
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 11.4 (asthma 9.1%, diabetes 11.2%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,132, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.372% avg pipe failure probability, 40% of ZIPs at high risk
56.7% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2024)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Lake County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 18 violations. Past 5 years: 28 total (28 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,132
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
263,530 housing units in Lake County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Lake County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Lake County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Lake County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Lake County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waukegan | 87,149 | 28 |
| 2 | Round Lake | 18,430 | 27 |
| 3 | Lincolnshire | 7,940 | 25 |
| 4 | Vernon Hills - Lake Company Pw | 33,207 | 25 |
| 5 | Zion | 24,442 | 25 |
68 total water systems serve Lake County.
All ZIP Codes in Lake County
32 ZIP codes tracked in Lake County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60083 | Wadsworth | 83 | B | 1 | $286K |
| 2 | 60061 | Vernon Hills | 82 | B | 6 (1 health) | $390K |
| 3 | 60046 | Lake Villa | 78 | B | 1 | $283K |
| 4 | 60086 | North Chicago | 77 | B | 6 (2 health) | — |
| 5 | 60031 | Gurnee | 73 | B | 0 | $322K |
| 6 | 60064 | North Chicago | 73 | B | 6 (2 health) | $140K |
| 7 | 60088 | Great Lakes | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 8 | 60073 | Round Lake | 72 | B | 2 | $215K |
| 9 | 60011 | Barrington | 67 | C | 1 (1 health) | — |
| 10 | 60041 | Ingleside | 66 | C | 8 (1 health) | $241K |
| 11 | 60044 | Lake Bluff | 66 | C | 5 | $569K |
| 12 | 60045 | Lake Forest | 66 | C | 3 (1 health) | $899K |
| 13 | 60030 | Grayslake | 64 | C | 1 | $277K |
| 14 | 60079 | Waukegan | 64 | C | 4 | — |
| 15 | 60020 | Fox Lake | 63 | C | 2 | $216K |
| 16 | 60060 | Mundelein | 63 | C | 7 | $299K |
| 17 | 60069 | Lincolnshire | 63 | C | 1 | $570K |
| 18 | 60075 | Russell | 63 | C | 0 | — |
| 19 | 60085 | Waukegan | 62 | C | 4 | $165K |
| 20 | 60010 | Barrington | 61 | C | 1 (1 health) | $623K |
| 21 | 60035 | Highland Park | 58 | C | 0 | $595K |
| 22 | 60096 | Winthrop Harbor | 58 | C | 14 | $238K |
| 23 | 60047 | Lake Zurich | 57 | C | 4 | $510K |
| 24 | 60087 | Waukegan | 57 | C | 4 | $186K |
| 25 | 60002 | Antioch | 54 | D | 10 | $288K |
| 26 | 60015 | Deerfield | 54 | D | 4 | $603K |
| 27 | 60037 | Fort Sheridan | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 28 | 60099 | Zion | 51 | D | 6 | $190K |
| 29 | 60040 | Highwood | 48 | D | 1 | $455K |
| 30 | 60092 | Libertyville | 48 | D | 2 | — |
| 31 | 60048 | Libertyville | 46 | D | 2 | $535K |
| 32 | 60084 | Wauconda | 46 | D | 1 | $283K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Lake County
Editorial methodology pairs each documented risk in this county with the buyer category that addresses it, drawing on water-quality detections, housing-stock lead exposure, EPA Radon Zone designation, and FEMA flood and wildfire ratings. NSF-certified options surface where applicable, and products that match the specific contaminant take priority.
- Best Water Filters for Lead — Lead above EPA action level in 3 ZIP codes
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 56.7% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Lake County, Illinois
Overview
Lake County in Illinois covers 32 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (63/100).
27 of 32 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 9 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Illinois water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.