Water Quality Technical Report — DOWNS, IL

Summary

DOWNS serves approximately 1,201 people in DOWNS, Illinois. Based on contaminant analyses from EPA ECHO, the most recent monitoring readings are within federal EPA standards (MCL), but this system has active MCL violations on record for 1 contaminant. 1 contaminant exceeds health-based guidelines. The most significant finding is Copper (90th Percentile) at 1.4 mg/L, which is 4.7x the health guideline. Data is drawn from source-level compliance monitoring and covers 2017 through 2026. Results reflect conditions at the point of collection (wells, treatment plants), not necessarily at the tap.

Key Findings

• Copper (90th percentile): Your utility reported 1.4 mg/L, above the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L (2025 reading).

EPA Violation Records

The following violation records exist in EPA's federal compliance database for this system. We do not have corresponding monitoring data for these contaminants in our database.

Exceeds Health Guidelines

These contaminants were detected below the EPA legal limit but above a health-based guideline from a public health agency (CalEPA OEHHA, WHO, or similar). Health guidelines are non-enforceable research-backed targets that are often stricter than the legal limit.

PFAS

No PFAS testing data is available for this system in the government data sources we access (EPA UCMR5, Illinois EPA). This does not mean PFAS is absent — it means this system has not been tested for PFAS in our data sources, or results have not yet been published.

Microplastics

Microplastics have been documented in raw and treated drinking water worldwide, but federal regulations do not currently require testing — so there is no data specific to this system. Standardized methods and rules are in progress.

Unregulated Detected Contaminants

These contaminants were detected but do not have a federal Maximum Contaminant Level. They are monitored for awareness, not compliance.

Other Potential Contaminants

Not detecting a contaminant does not prove it isn't present — it only means the laboratory didn't test for it, or tested below the reporting limit. Many substances of emerging concern are not routinely monitored because federal regulations haven't caught up to the science.

• Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) — USGS Emerging Contaminants program · Kolpin et al. (USGS FS-2006-3013)
• Unregulated PFAS compounds — EPA PFAS rule (2024) · EPA UCMR monitoring
• 1,4-Dioxane — EPA technical fact sheet
• Hexavalent chromium (Cr-VI) — EPA chromium in drinking water · California OEHHA PHG
• Unregulated disinfection byproducts — EPA Stage 1 / Stage 2 DBPR
• Endocrine disruptors — EPA Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program

Compliance History

Formal EPA and DNR compliance events on record for this utility. Includes all events from the last 10 years plus any unresolved violations regardless of age. Health-based violations are legally enforceable thresholds that were exceeded; procedural events are monitoring or reporting lapses that don't indicate contamination by themselves.

+ 7 older events in the 10-year window not shown

Source: EPA ECHO enforcement and violation records (via Envirofacts / SDWIS Federal Reports).

Routine Maintenance

Nothing in this system's current readings crosses a legal limit or a health guideline. Water systems still change over time, so the following is a baseline of habits worth keeping.

• Check the utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report. Utilities publish CCRs every July covering the prior calendar year. They include sampling data the utility collected itself, which complements the independent data on this page. EPA CCR search.
• Notice changes in taste, odor, or color. Chlorine smells, metallic tastes, and rust discoloration are worth flagging to the utility even when readings are in range — they can signal distribution-system events that sampling catches on a delay.
• Consider an independent tap test. A state-certified laboratory can test your tap water for a specific contaminant or a broader panel. Especially valuable for smaller systems with limited monitoring data. Illinois certified labs (EPA directory).
• Point-of-use filtration is optional. When readings are within guidelines, any additional filtration is a personal preference — choose based on taste, hardness, or a specific contaminant you want extra assurance on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Data Sources and Methodology

EPA ECHO Lead & Copper Rule

90th percentile measurements from EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online. Based on tap-level sampling at high-risk sites.

ECHO facility report →

Definitions

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)

The highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water, set by the EPA. MCLs are legally enforceable standards.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)

The level of a contaminant below which there is no known or expected health risk. MCLGs are non-enforceable public health goals.

Action Level

The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements. Used for lead and copper.

Health Advisory

Non-enforceable guidelines set by the EPA providing information on contaminants that can cause health effects at certain exposure levels.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

A measure of all dissolved minerals, salts, and organic matter in water, expressed in mg/L (ppm). Not a health hazard but affects taste and indicates overall mineral content.

PFAS

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. A group of manufactured chemicals that do not break down in the environment. The EPA set enforceable limits for several PFAS compounds in 2024.

Non-Detect (ND)

The contaminant was tested for but not found above the laboratory's reporting limit. This does not mean zero — it means below the detection threshold.

VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)

Chemicals that evaporate easily and can contaminate groundwater. Sources include gasoline, industrial solvents, and dry cleaning fluids. Some are regulated by the EPA; many are monitored but not yet regulated.

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Cite This Report

WaterAdvantage. "Water Quality Technical Report: DOWNS, IL (IL1130500)." WaterAdvantage.org, 2026-09-06. https://www.wateradvantage.org/report/IL1130500/detail