Charleston
EPA ID: IL0290100 · 17,286 people served · 1 ZIP code
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA records for Charleston (IL0290100): 3 violations recorded with unresolved status in the SDWIS data used. Charleston | open status in EPA data: 3 violations | people served: about 17,286.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Charleston Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary
Demographics of ZIP Codes Served
The ZIP codes associated with Charleston have a median household income of $54,229 and about 20,703 residents live in those ZIP codes (Census; not the number of people this system supplies). Approximately 64% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: On average, 50% of census tracts in the counties mapped to this service area are designated disadvantaged by the federal Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST, 2022 version). Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Charleston's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
Infrastructure Risk
PFAS in ZIP Codes This System Serves
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been reported in samples from water systems associated with the ZIP codes in this system's area. These results can come from other water systems serving the same ZIP codes; check the UCMR5 section for any results reported for this system. 2 detections recorded.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Illinois
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
Charleston (EPA ID: IL0290100) is a community water system in Illinois that serves approximately 17,286 people from surface water sources.
This system serves ZIP code 61920 in Charleston.
Violation History
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 3 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 3 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Lead and Copper Rule | Non-health-based | Unaddressed (current) |
| September 1, 2025 | Public Notice | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Rule | Non-health-based | Unaddressed (current) |
| October 17, 2024 | LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | Health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Rule | Non-health-based | Unaddressed (current) |
| October 1, 2023 | Bromate | Non-health-based | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Other (notice or report rule) | 2 | No |
| Bromate | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Public Notice | Monitoring & Reporting | 1 | No |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | Treatment Technique | 1 | Yes |
| Public Notice | Other (notice or report rule) | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0.003 mg/L | No | 2025-12-31 |
No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.
Radon Risk in Service Area
1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is in EPA Radon Zone 1.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by IL or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.
- 61920 - Charleston
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View available EPA compliance records for Charleston (IL0290100) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charleston water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 3 current noncompliance records and zero current records classified as health-based. That classification is not a property-specific water test or safety guarantee.
How many people does Charleston serve?
Charleston serves approximately 17,286 people across 1 ZIP code in Illinois.
Where does Charleston get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected; the table compares each one with the EPA MCL where one exists (April 2024 rule, compliance required from 2029) and with this state's enforceable standard where one exists.
EPA's April 2024 PFAS rule sets MCLs of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS and 10 ppt for PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA (GenX); water systems must comply from 2029. Other PFAS compounds have no individual federal MCL. A state standard is shown only where this system's state has its own enforceable PFAS limit. Detection results are EPA UCMR5 samples, not a measurement at your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
- #33 / 50 Highest Exposure Burden (Illinois)
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Charleston (IL): 1 Health Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/il0290100/
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title = {{Charleston (IL): 1 Health Violation}},
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url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/il0290100/}
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What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Charleston (EPA ID: IL0290100) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.