Current Noncompliance IL

Highwood

EPA ID: IL0970550 ยท 5,335 people served ยท 2 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Highwood (IL0970550): 2 unresolved EPA violations on record. Highwood shows 2 open EPA violations in current federal records for approximately 5,335 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS

B ยท 81
Avg Safety Score
5,335
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.076 mg/L
Max Lead Level - Exceeds Limit
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
1
Contaminants Flagged
$525K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$131,837
Median Household Income
35,479
Service Area Population
19%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
20th
Energy Burden Percentile
75%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Highwood serves a community with a median household income of $131,837 and an estimated 35,479 residents across its service area. Approximately 75% 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

Highwood'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
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

67 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
3 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 96% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Highwood compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Illinois

Posen
5,331 people
C 2 violations
0 violations
Sangamon Valley Pwd
5,300 people
2 violations
Genoa
5,298 people
1 violation
Robbins
5,415 people
C 29 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Lead Pipe Replacement Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation
Lead Pipe Replacement $2,250
Flood Insurance $600
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $3,250

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.)

Lead Exposure - Child Lifetime Cost $10,000

Per affected child (EPA est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,280
10 years
$10,560
20 years
$21,120

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $3,250 (one-time) vs. $10,560 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

Highwood (EPA ID: IL0970550) is a community water system in Illinois that serves approximately 5,335 people from surface water sources.

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

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (81/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 2 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

2 current noncompliance records in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot; none are classified as health-based in this evidence.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 0 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 2 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
January 1, 2026 Stage 1 DBP Rule Non-health-based Unaddressed (current)
July 1, 2025 Stage 1 DBP Rule Non-health-based Unaddressed (current)

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 2 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.076 mg/L Yes N/A
Lead exceeds EPA action level in at least one sampling location. Consider using a certified NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 filter rated for lead removal.

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 $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 Highwood (IL0970550) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Highwood water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 2 current noncompliance records and zero current records classified as health-based. That classification is not a property-specific water test or safety guarantee.

How many people does Highwood serve?

Highwood serves approximately 5,335 people across 2 ZIP codes in Illinois.

Where does Highwood 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.

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

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Highwood safe to drink?
Highwood earns a B safety grade with 2 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Highwood's water?
Detected contaminants include Stage 1 DBP Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant 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 Highwood serve?
Highwood serves approximately 5,335 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Highwood's water source?
Highwood draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Highwood's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.076 mg/L. This exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. A lead-certified filter is recommended, especially for homes with young children.
What is the demographic profile of Highwood's service area?
The Highwood service area has a median household income of $131,837. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Highwood get its water?
Highwood'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.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Highwood (IL): 2 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/il0970550/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-il0970550,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Highwood (IL): 2 EPA Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/il0970550/}
}

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

Highwood (EPA ID: IL0970550) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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