Chicago
EPA ID: IL0316000 · 2,721,308 people served · 59 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Chicago (IL0316000): 10 EPA violations in the last five years. Over the past five years, Chicago recorded 10 violations, all subsequently resolved through the EPA enforcement process - the supplier currently operates in good standing, with no active actions on file for its 2,721,308 residents.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Chicago Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary - Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Chicago serves a community with a median household income of $77,841 and an estimated 2,840,233 residents across its service area. Approximately 78% 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?
Chicago'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
Detected Contaminants
How Chicago compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Chlorite at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 1 mg/L. Anemia and nervous system effects in infants and children. Consider ferrous sulfate reduction filtration.
Fecal Coliform at 2 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Contaminant 2041 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 2 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.
Chlorite was detected in this water system. ferrous sulfate reduction filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →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
Chicago (EPA ID: IL0316000) is a community water system in Illinois that serves approximately 2,721,308 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 59 ZIP codes across 4 communities.
ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (71/100)
This is the average Home Safety Score for 56 of 59 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
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 9 resolved, 1 archived, 0 addressed, and 0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2, 2025 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| May 1, 2025 | Fecal Coliform | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Fecal Coliform | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Contaminant 2041 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| July 1, 2024 | Chlorite | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Chlorite | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Chlorite | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Chlorite | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| December 30, 2021 | Stage 1 DBP 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Contaminant 2041 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 0.007 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 FilterFree 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.
This system serves 59 ZIP codes:
60601 · 60602 · 60603 · 60604 · 60605 60606 · 60607 · 60608 · 60609 · 60610 60611 · 60612 · 60613 · 60614 · 60615 60616 · 60617 · 60618 · 60619 · 60620 60621 · 60622 · 60623 · 60624 · 60625 60626 · 60628 · 60629 · 60630 · 60631 60632 · 60633 · 60634 · 60636 · 60637 60638 · 60639 · 60640 · 60641 · 60642 60643 · 60644 · 60645 · 60646 · 60647 60649 · 60651 · 60652 · 60653 · 60654 60655 · 60656 · 60657 · 60659 · 60660 60661 · 60707 · 60804 · 60827
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Chicago (IL0316000) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chicago water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Chicago; its 10 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.
How many people does Chicago serve?
Chicago serves approximately 2,721,308 people across 59 ZIP codes in Illinois.
Where does Chicago get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
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.
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 →
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.
- #40 / 100 Highest Exposure Burden (U.S.)
- #27 / 50 Most Disadvantaged Populations Served (Illinois)
- #1 / 50 Highest Exposure Burden (Illinois)
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Chicago (IL): 10 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/il0316000/
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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
Chicago (EPA ID: IL0316000) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.