Water System Report IL

Hickory Hills

EPA ID: IL0311200 · 14,505 people served · 5 ZIP codes

Five clean years on EPA record — Hickory Hills, 14,505 residents served.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 70
Avg Safety Score
14,505
People Served
5
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$259K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Hickory Hills Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$83,969
Median Household Income
69,050
Service Area Population
46%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
69%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Hickory Hills serves a community with a median household income of $83,969 and an estimated 69,050 residents across its service area. Approximately 69% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 46% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. 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?

Surface Water

Hickory Hills'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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
40th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Cook County, Illinois rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

55 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
14 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 80% of expected lifespan used End of life

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Illinois

Forest Park
14,340 people
B 1 violation
Morris
14,775 people
D 9 violations
Washington
14,793 people
C 11 violations
Midlothian
14,819 people
B 1 violation
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,320
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $1,720

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

Hickory Hills (EPA ID: IL0311200) is a community water system in Illinois that serves approximately 14,505 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 5 ZIP codes across 5 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (70/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

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.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Hickory Hills (IL0311200) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hickory Hills water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Hickory Hills has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Hickory Hills serve?

Hickory Hills serves approximately 14,505 people across 5 ZIP codes in Illinois.

Where does Hickory Hills get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Surface water
Drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
Chlorine

Source: HICKORY HILLS Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Source water assessment from HICKORY HILLS Consumer Confidence Report:
Source water assessment completed by Illinois EPA. Available at http://www.epa.state.il.us/cgi-bin/wp/swap-fact-sheets.pl

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Standard
Disinfection plus one or more treatment additives — typically corrosion control, pH adjustment, or fluoridation. Standard regime for utilities serving treated municipal water.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
Chlorine

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from HICKORY HILLS Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
116

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
4,024
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 14,505
Reported to Illinois

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Hickory Hills safe to drink?
Hickory Hills earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
Hickory Hills meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Hickory Hills serve?
Hickory Hills serves approximately 14,505 people with drinking water across 5 ZIP codes.
What is Hickory Hills's water source?
Hickory Hills draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Hickory Hills's service area?
The Hickory Hills service area has a median household income of $83,969. EPA EJScreen data classifies 46% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Hickory Hills get its water?
Hickory Hills'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. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
Home Water Systems Illinois Hickory Hills

Get safety alerts for Hickory Hills, Illinois

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool — no phone call required.