Water System Report IL

Effingham

EPA ID: IL0490250 · 12,252 people served · 5 ZIP codes

Across every monitored period in the past five years, Effingham reported no EPA violations for its service population of 12,252.

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

B · 83
Avg Safety Score
12,252
People Served
5
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0012 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$167K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 2 (2021) to 2 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Effingham Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$71,200
Median Household Income
91,287
Service Area Population
29%
Disadvantaged Population
48th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
72%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Effingham serves a community with a median household income of $71,200 and an estimated 91,287 residents across its service area. Approximately 72% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Effingham'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
54th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
12th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Peoria 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

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

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 9 detections recorded. 2 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

State limits: PFOA: 0.002 ppt, PFOS: 0.014 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Illinois

Centralia
12,182 people
B 12 violations
Warrenville
12,350 people
B 2 violations
Winnetka
12,475 people
C 0 violations
Markham
12,500 people
C 7 violations
Richton Park
12,504 people
C 6 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Lead Pipe Replacement Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Lead Pipe Replacement $1,068
Radon Mitigation $720
Flood Insurance $720
PFAS Treatment $420
Water Filtration $120
Total Estimated Cost $3,048

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:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $3,048 (one-time) vs. $330 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

Effingham (EPA ID: IL0490250) is a community water system in Illinois that serves approximately 12,252 people from surface water sources.

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

Average Home Safety Score: B (83/100)

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

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
62401 0.0012 mg/L No N/A

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 Effingham (IL0490250) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Effingham water safe to drink?

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

How many people does Effingham serve?

Effingham serves approximately 12,252 people across 5 ZIP codes in Illinois.

Where does Effingham 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
Chloramines
Treatment chemicals reported
chloramines

Source: Effingham Consumer Confidence Report.

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

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.
chloramines

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Effingham 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
5,286
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 2025-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 12,252
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 Effingham safe to drink?
Effingham 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?
Effingham meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Effingham serve?
Effingham serves approximately 12,252 people with drinking water across 5 ZIP codes.
What is Effingham's water source?
Effingham draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Effingham's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0012 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Effingham's service area?
The Effingham service area has a median household income of $71,200. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Effingham get its water?
Effingham'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 Effingham

Get safety alerts for Effingham, 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.