German Valley
EPA ID: IL1770250 · 463 people served · 2 ZIP codes
EPA monitoring data for German Valley shows an unblemished five-year compliance history — no violations of any kind have been recorded for this utility, which supplies water to approximately 463 people, covering every reporting cycle without a single MCL exceedance or monitoring lapse.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for German Valley Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary
Service Area Demographics
The German Valley serves a community with a median household income of $75,750 and an estimated 1,308 residents across its service area. Approximately 81% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 31% 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?
German Valley'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.
About 1% of homes in Stephenson 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.
Infrastructure Risk
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
German Valley (EPA ID: IL1770250) is a community water system in Illinois that serves approximately 463 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.
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
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for German Valley (IL1770250) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is German Valley water safe to drink?
Based on EPA records, German Valley has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.
How many people does German Valley serve?
German Valley serves approximately 463 people across 2 ZIP codes in Illinois.
Where does German Valley get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
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.