Lake Sara Area Water Company-op, Inc.
EPA ID: IL0495150 · 3,352 people served · 1 ZIP code
Lake Sara Area Water Company-op, Inc.'s five-year compliance history is clean by every EPA metric — no health-based violations, no monitoring lapses, no enforcement actions on record, reflecting consistent performance for a utility that supplies water to approximately 3,352 residents year after year.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Lake Sara Area Water Company-op, Inc. Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary
Service Area Demographics
The Lake Sara Area Water Company-op, Inc. serves a community with a median household income of $76,098 and an estimated 19,371 residents across its service area. Approximately 61% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Lake Sara Area Water Company-op, Inc.'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.
About 0% of homes in Effingham County, Illinois rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points. Surface water sources near wastewater outfalls may face additional treatment challenges.
Infrastructure Risk
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection 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
Lake Sara Area Water Company-op, Inc. (EPA ID: IL0495150) is a community water system in Illinois that serves approximately 3,352 people from surface water sources.
This system serves ZIP code 62401 in Effingham.
Violation History
Lead & Copper
No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.
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
- 62401 — Effingham
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Lake Sara Area Water Company-op, Inc. (IL0495150) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Sara Area Water Company-op, Inc. water safe to drink?
Based on EPA records, Lake Sara Area Water Company-op, Inc. has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.
How many people does Lake Sara Area Water Company-op, Inc. serve?
Lake Sara Area Water Company-op, Inc. serves approximately 3,352 people across 1 ZIP code in Illinois.
Where does Lake Sara Area Water Company-op, Inc. 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 below the current state-enforceable MCL.
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 →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
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.
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.