North Chicago
EPA ID: IL0971250 · 16,813 people served · 4 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for North Chicago (IL0971250): 1 unresolved EPA violation on record. EPA compliance records for North Chicago show 1 unresolved violation - findings that remain open and are tracked at the federal level, covering a service territory of approximately 16,813 people.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for North Chicago Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary - Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The North Chicago serves a community with a median household income of $63,444 and an estimated 112,368 residents across its service area. Approximately 66% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
North Chicago'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.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How North Chicago compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Atrazine at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.003 mg/L. Endocrine disruption, cardiovascular & reproductive effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Surface Water Treatment 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.
Atrazine was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
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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
North Chicago (EPA ID: IL0971250) is a community water system in Illinois that serves approximately 16,813 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 communities.
ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (77/100)
This is the average Home Safety Score for 2 of 4 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
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 5 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Non-health-based | Unaddressed (current) |
| June 20, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| April 1, 2024 | Atrazine | Health-based | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| April 1, 2023 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Health-based | 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 | 2 | No |
| Atrazine | Organic | 1 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
Atrazine (EPA limit: 0.003 mg/L)
Endocrine disruption, cardiovascular & reproductive effects At-risk groups: pregnant women, people in agricultural areas, rural communities in the Midwest corn belt.
Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (EPA limit: 0.06 mg/L)
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects At-risk groups: pregnant women, infants, long-term consumers of chlorinated municipal water.
Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0 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 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 FilterFree 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 North Chicago (IL0971250) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Chicago water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 1 current noncompliance record and zero current records classified as health-based. That classification is not a property-specific water test or safety guarantee.
How many people does North Chicago serve?
North Chicago serves approximately 16,813 people across 4 ZIP codes in Illinois.
Where does North Chicago 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.
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 →
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
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). North Chicago (IL): 2 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/il0971250/
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title = {{North Chicago (IL): 2 Health Violations}},
year = {n.d.},
url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/il0971250/}
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What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
North Chicago (EPA ID: IL0971250) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.