Water System Report IL

Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood

EPA ID: IL1830600 · 1,600 people served · 3 ZIP codes

EPA monitoring data for Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood shows an unblemished five-year compliance history — no violations of any kind have been recorded for this utility, which supplies water to approximately 1,600 people, covering every reporting cycle without a single MCL exceedance or monitoring lapse.

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

1,600
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$245K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$86,315
Median Household Income
58,517
Service Area Population
19%
Disadvantaged Population
43th
Poverty Percentile
33th
Energy Burden Percentile
57%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood serves a community with a median household income of $86,315 and an estimated 58,517 residents across its service area. Approximately 57% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood'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
80th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
63th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in McHenry 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 80th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points. Surface water sources near wastewater outfalls may face additional treatment challenges.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 63th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

44 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
26 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 63% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 8 detections recorded. 2 exceed 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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Illinois

Herscher
1,600 people
C 1 violation
Erie
1,600 people
D 0 violations
0 violations
Jerome
1,600 people
0 violations
Teutopolis
1,599 people
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,400
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Water Filtration $200
PFAS Treatment $200
Total Estimated Cost $3,000

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:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

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

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $3,000 (one-time) vs. $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

Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood (EPA ID: IL1830600) is a community water system in Illinois that serves approximately 1,600 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

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 Filter

Free 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 Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood (IL1830600) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood serve?

Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood serves approximately 1,600 people across 3 ZIP codes in Illinois.

Where does Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Lead Service Line Inventory

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

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
267
Unknown Material
431
Confirmed Non-Lead

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.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2025-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 1,600
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 →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood serve?
Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood serves approximately 1,600 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood's water source?
Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood's service area?
The Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood service area has a median household income of $86,315. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood get its water?
Prairie Path Water Company-oakwood'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.
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