Rockford
EPA ID: IL2010300 · 147,051 people served · 21 ZIP codes
Rockford carries 3 open EPA violations that remain unresolved in the federal system — approximately 147,051 people fall within its service area.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 8 (2021) to 29 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Rockford Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade F
Service Area Demographics
The Rockford serves a community with a median household income of $75,492 and an estimated 250,353 residents across its service area. Approximately 60% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 43% 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?
Rockford'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 Winnebago 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 71th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 78th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Rockford compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
PFNA at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.00001 mg/L.
Lead at 2 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Lead and Copper Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 2 DBP 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. 34 detections recorded. 10 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 3 exceed state limits.
Lead was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis 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
Rockford (EPA ID: IL2010300) is a community water system in Illinois that serves approximately 147,051 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 21 ZIP codes across 8 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: F (34/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Health-based | Unresolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Gross Beta | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| February 9, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | PFNA | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 3 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 2 | No |
| PFNA | PFAS | 1 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Gross Beta | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | Yes |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 1 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61101 | 0.014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 61102 | 0.014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 61103 | 0.014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 61104 | 0.014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 61105 | 0.014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 61106 | 0.014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 61107 | 0.014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 61108 | 0.014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 61109 | 0.014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 61110 | 0.014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 61112 | 0.014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 61114 | 0.014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 61125 | 0.014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 61126 | 0.014 mg/L | No | N/A |
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 $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: 16 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 5 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
- 61016 — Cherry Valley
- 61020 — Davis Junction
- 61072 — Rockton
- 61073 — Roscoe
- 61084 — Stillman Valley
- 61088 — Winnebago
- 61101 — Rockford
- 61102 — Rockford
- 61103 — Rockford
- 61104 — Rockford
- 61105 — Rockford
- 61106 — Rockford
- 61107 — Rockford
- 61108 — Rockford
- 61109 — Rockford
- 61110 — Rockford
- 61111 — Loves Park
- 61112 — Rockford
- 61114 — Rockford
- 61125 — Rockford
- 61126 — Rockford
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Rockford (IL2010300) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rockford water safe to drink?
Rockford has recorded 1 health-based violation in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does Rockford serve?
Rockford serves approximately 147,051 people across 21 ZIP codes in Illinois.
Where does Rockford get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from City of Rockford Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: City of Rockford Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from City of Rockford Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
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.
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 →
PFAS Substances Detected in This System
This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.
In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →
Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by City of Rockford.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
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.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Notable events from the utility's CCR
These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.
- Lead 90th percentile = 6 ppb; 1 site exceeded action level of 15 ppb.
- Copper 90th percentile = 1.1 ppm; 2 sites exceeded action level of 1.3 ppm.
- PFAS detected in Well 06 (PFHxS 5.8-6.7 ppt, PFHxA 2.0-2.2 ppt, PFBS ND-2.0 ppt). All below MCLs.
- VOCs (TCE, PCE) detected in groundwater wells.
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
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
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
Rockford (EPA ID: IL2010300) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.