COUNTY REPORT IL

Whiteside County, Illinois

13 ZIP codes · Avg score 54/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03

While Whiteside County's situation varies by ZIP, its 13 ZIP codes collectively fall below the state average — addressing specific concerns starts with checking the system that serves a given address.

How Whiteside County Compares

Whiteside County54/100
Illinois avg61/100
National avg68/100

How Whiteside County Compares

D
County Grade
54/100
Avg Safety Score
13
ZIP Codes
13
Water Systems

Whiteside County scores 7 points below the Illinois state average (61/100) and 14 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

D
County Grade
54
Avg Safety Score
13
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 62353 (63/100)
Lowest ZIP: 61258 (40/100)
$143K
Median Home Value
$2,223
Avg Remediation (155% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Whiteside County, Illinois

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 13.8 (asthma 10.2%, diabetes 12.9%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,635, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.477% avg pipe failure probability, 85% of ZIPs at high risk

79% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2023–2024)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across Whiteside County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2023
2 (2 health)
2024
11 (11 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 11 violations. Past 5 years: 13 total (13 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.2% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.9% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 36.3% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1967
Median Build Year
79%
Pre-1978 Housing
48%
Pipe Failure Probability
85%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,635

Flood $692/yr
Energy Code Gap $582/yr
Water / Lead $362/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

27,718 housing units in Whiteside County

Pre-1940 26%
1940–1959 22%
1960–1979 29%
1980–1999 14%
2000+ 9%

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 Whiteside County

$143K
Median Home Value
$2,223
Est. Remediation Cost
1.6%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Whiteside 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 Whiteside County residents

Asthma 10.2% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.9% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 36.3% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Whiteside County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Albany 846 32
2 COUNTRY ACRES MHP (WHITESIDE COUNTY) 232 10
3 Rock Falls 8,620 10
4 Riverside Estates Mhp 120 10
5 PROPHETSTOWN 2,100 10

13 total water systems serve Whiteside County.

All ZIP Codes in Whiteside County

13 ZIP codes tracked in Whiteside County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 62353 Mount Sterling 63 C 1 $144K
2 61250 Erie 61 C 7 (1 health) $169K
3 61277 Prophetstown 61 C 3 (1 health) $134K
4 61283 Tampico 61 C 3 (1 health) $126K
5 61071 Rock Falls 59 C 10 $105K
6 61270 Morrison 59 C 7 $165K
7 61081 Sterling 57 C 0 $121K
8 61230 Albany 56 C 22 (1 health) $151K
9 61252 Fulton 56 C 3 (1 health) $143K
10 61243 Deer Grove 53 D 0 $220K
11 61037 Galt 40 D 0 $116K
12 61251 Fenton 40 D 0 $187K
13 61258 Hooppole 40 D 0 $75K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Whiteside County

Retailer arrangements don't shape what appears here — the selection logic is independent, filtered against EPA detections and the federal hazard data on file for this county.

Overview

Whiteside County in Illinois covers 13 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (54/100).

8 of 13 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 5 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Illinois water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

What You Can Do

Whiteside County has a grade of D. Here are steps to protect your household.

1

Test your tap water

Order a certified lab test kit ($20-$50) to check for lead, bacteria, and other contaminants specific to your ZIP code.

2

Consider a certified water filter

NSF-certified filters can remove most common contaminants. Match the filter to your test results for best protection. Try our filter matcher

3

Contact your water utility

Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your water provider. It details exactly what was found in your water supply.

4

Check for lead in your home

79% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Whiteside County?
Whiteside County receives a grade of D. 5 of 13 ZIP codes have health-based violations. Independent water testing is recommended.
How many water systems serve Whiteside County?
Whiteside County is served by 13 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 13 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Whiteside County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Whiteside County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,635 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Whiteside County?
The median home build year in Whiteside County is 1967. 79% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Whiteside County compare to Illinois?
Whiteside County has an average water safety score of 54/100, which is below the Illinois state average of 61/100.

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