Historical Compliance Records IL

Elgin

EPA ID: IL0894380 ยท 114,797 people served ยท 10 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Elgin (IL0894380): 8 EPA violations in the last five years. On record: Elgin, 8 violations, all resolved, 114,797 in service area.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 57
Avg Safety Score
114,797
People Served
10
ZIP Codes Served
8
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.00237 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
4
Contaminants Flagged
$324K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$119,188
Median Household Income
291,636
Service Area Population
28%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
23th
Energy Burden Percentile
44%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Elgin serves a community with a median household income of $119,188 and an estimated 291,636 residents across its service area. Approximately 44% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Elgin'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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
66th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
57th
Superfund Site Proximity

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 66th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points. Surface water sources near wastewater outfalls may face additional treatment challenges.

Infrastructure Risk

35 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
33 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 51% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Elgin compares to EPA limits

Chlorite 5 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 1 mg/L
Anemia and nervous system effects in infants and children

What This Means For You

Chlorite at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 1 mg/L. Anemia and nervous system effects in infants and children. Consider ferrous sulfate reduction filtration.

Contaminant 2031 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.

Surface Water Treatment 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. 15 detections recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 1 exceeds state limits.

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 โ†’

Chlorite was detected in this water system. ferrous sulfate reduction filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Illinois

Springfield
117,444 people
C 3 violations
Il American-east St Louis
131,368 people
B 0 violations
Il American-peoria
137,575 people
D 0 violations
Waukegan
87,149 people
B 5 violations
Cicero
83,000 people
C 8 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Lead Pipe Replacement Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,080
Lead Pipe Replacement $828
Radon Mitigation $640
PFAS Treatment $260
Water Filtration $120
Total Estimated Cost $2,928

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.)

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

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

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,928 (one-time) vs. $10,330 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

Elgin (EPA ID: IL0894380) is a community water system in Illinois that serves approximately 114,797 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 10 ZIP codes across 8 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (57/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 3 of 10 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

No current noncompliance in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot. The 8 records in the 2021-2026 window are classified as resolved or archived, not current.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 8 resolved, 0 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
October 1, 2025 Chlorite Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2025 Chlorite Non-health-based Resolved
April 1, 2025 Stage 1 DBP Rule Non-health-based Resolved
November 1, 2024 Chlorite Non-health-based Resolved
November 1, 2024 Chlorite Non-health-based Resolved
July 1, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Non-health-based Resolved
July 1, 2024 Contaminant 2031 Non-health-based Resolved
July 1, 2021 Chlorite 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 5 No
Contaminant 2031 Other Violation 1 No
Stage 1 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
0.00237 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 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 $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” 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 Elgin (IL0894380) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elgin water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Elgin; its 8 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.

How many people does Elgin serve?

Elgin serves approximately 114,797 people across 10 ZIP codes in Illinois.

Where does Elgin 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.

Samples collected
178
Detections
5
Latest sample
2/7/2025
Highest analyte
PFBA: 7.6 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBA 7.6 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFPeA 4.1 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHxA 3.8 ppt โ€” โ€”

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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

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 Elgin safe to drink?
Elgin has a C safety grade based on 8 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Elgin's water?
Detected contaminants include Chlorite, Contaminant 2031, Stage 1 DBP Rule, Surface Water Treatment 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 Elgin serve?
Elgin serves approximately 114,797 people with drinking water across 10 ZIP codes.
What is Elgin's water source?
Elgin draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Elgin's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00237 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Elgin's service area?
The Elgin service area has a median household income of $119,188. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Elgin get its water?
Elgin'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 the exported violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is classified as elevated.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Elgin (IL): 8 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/il0894380/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-il0894380,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Elgin (IL): 8 EPA Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/il0894380/}
}

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 โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Elgin (EPA ID: IL0894380) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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