Current Noncompliance IL 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Western Springs

EPA ID: IL0313180 · 13,274 people served · 3 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Western Springs (IL0313180): 2 unresolved EPA violations on record. EPA compliance records for Western Springs show 2 unresolved violations - findings that remain open and are tracked at the federal level, covering a service territory of approximately 13,274 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C · 62
Avg Safety Score
13,274
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
8
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.00204 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
4
Contaminants Flagged
$428K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Western Springs Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$118,831
Median Household Income
58,147
Service Area Population
46%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
82%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Western Springs serves a community with a median household income of $118,831 and an estimated 58,147 residents across its service area. Approximately 82% 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?

Groundwater

Western Springs's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

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

Infrastructure Risk

70 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
1 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 99% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Western Springs compares to EPA limits

Gross Beta 1 pCi/L (2% of limit)
0 EPA Limit: 50 pCi/L

What This Means For You

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Lead and Copper Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Illinois

Channahon
13,380 people
C 1 violation
Lincolnwood
13,463 people
B 1 violation
La Grange Park
13,011 people
C 2 violations
U of I-champaign
13,000 people
2 violations
Rantoul
13,000 people
C 1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,200
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $1,600

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,000
10 years
$10,000
20 years
$20,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,600 (one-time) vs. $10,000 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Western Springs (EPA ID: IL0313180) is a community water system in Illinois that serves approximately 13,274 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (62/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 3 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

2 current noncompliance records in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot; none are classified as health-based in this evidence.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 6 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 2 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 Stage 1 DBP Rule Non-health-based Unaddressed (current)
October 1, 2025 Gross Beta Health-based Resolved
July 1, 2025 Surface Water Treatment Rule Non-health-based Unaddressed (current)
July 1, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Non-health-based Resolved
July 1, 2022 Surface Water Treatment Rule Non-health-based Resolved
October 21, 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Non-health-based Resolved
July 1, 2021 Surface Water Treatment Rule Non-health-based Resolved
July 1, 2021 Surface Water Treatment Rule Non-health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 5 No
Gross Beta Radionuclides 1 Yes
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.00204 mg/L No N/A

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

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 Western Springs (IL0313180) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Western Springs water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 2 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 Western Springs serve?

Western Springs serves approximately 13,274 people across 3 ZIP codes in Illinois.

Where does Western Springs get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

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
58

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 →

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Western Springs safe to drink?
Western Springs has a C safety grade based on 8 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Western Springs's water?
Detected contaminants include Surface Water Treatment Rule, Stage 1 DBP Rule, Lead and Copper Rule, Gross Beta. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 3 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Western Springs serve?
Western Springs serves approximately 13,274 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Western Springs's water source?
Western Springs draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Western Springs's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00204 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Western Springs's service area?
The Western Springs service area has a median household income of $118,831. EPA EJScreen data classifies 46% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Western Springs get its water?
Western Springs's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on the exported violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is classified as elevated.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Western Springs (IL): 1 Health Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/il0313180/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-il0313180,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Western Springs (IL): 1 Health Violation}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/il0313180/}
}

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Western Springs (EPA ID: IL0313180) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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