Monitoring Violations IL

Onarga

EPA ID: IL0750700 · 1,409 people served · 2 ZIP codes

4 total violations across five years at Onarga — every finding closed, utility compliant today, 1,409 served.

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

C · 67
Avg Safety Score
1,409
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
4
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0056 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
4
Contaminants Flagged
$114K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$69,584
Median Household Income
3,954
Service Area Population
33%
Disadvantaged Population
60th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
84%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Onarga serves a community with a median household income of $69,584 and an estimated 3,954 residents across its service area. Approximately 84% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 33% 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

Onarga'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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
10th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
30th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Iroquois 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

72 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
0 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 100% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Onarga compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

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.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Revised Total Coliform Rule at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Illinois

Pembroke Township
1,410 people
C 12 violations
Gridley
1,411 people
0 violations
Grandview
1,405 people
0 violations
D 3 violations
Sunset Mhp
1,400 people
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,500
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Total Estimated Cost $2,700

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 $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,500
10 years
$5,000
20 years
$10,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,700 (one-time) vs. $5,000 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

Onarga (EPA ID: IL0750700) is a community water system in Illinois that serves approximately 1,409 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (67/100)

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

Violation History

4 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
October 16, 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Resolved
August 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Revised Total Coliform Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 1 No
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 1 No

Lead & Copper

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
60955 0.0056 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High 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 Onarga (IL0750700) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Onarga water safe to drink?

Onarga has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does Onarga serve?

Onarga serves approximately 1,409 people across 2 ZIP codes in Illinois.

Where does Onarga get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Treatment regime

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

Treatment classification
Minimal — disinfection only
Disinfection (typically chlorine) without additional filtration or coagulation stages. Common for groundwater systems where source water meets federal standards after disinfection alone.

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 ONARGA 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.

Lead Service Line Inventory

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

19
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
504
Confirmed Non-Lead

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 2025-07-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 1,409
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 →

Notable events and violations

This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.

Notable events from the utility's CCR

These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.

Notable events from ONARGA Consumer Confidence Report:
  • 1 positive coliform monthly sample detected (2024); Violation=N in report.

ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Onarga safe to drink?
Onarga has a C safety grade based on 4 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Onarga's water?
Detected contaminants include Stage 1 DBP Rule, Lead and Copper Rule, Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Revised Total Coliform Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 4 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 Onarga serve?
Onarga serves approximately 1,409 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Onarga's water source?
Onarga draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Onarga's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0056 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Onarga's service area?
The Onarga service area has a median household income of $69,584. EPA EJScreen data classifies 33% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Onarga get its water?
Onarga'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 available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

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

Onarga (EPA ID: IL0750700) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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