Skip to content

Water Quality Report

Chicago, IL

Cook County · 2,726,479 residents · 11 water systems

10

Contaminants detected

0

PFAS compounds

136

Hardness (mg/L)

1

Above legal limits

5

Above health guidelines

Chicago drinking water comes from a mix of groundwater and surface water sources. Based on the most recent monitoring data, 10 contaminants have been detected in the water supply, including Lead, Nitrate, Arsenic, Copper, and 6 others. PFAS testing has been conducted with no detections. Water hardness is 136 mg/L (hard), which is within a typical range for the region.

Contaminants detected in Chicago water

Detection does not necessarily mean unsafe levels. See individual reports for concentrations and EPA limits.

Lead0.0064 / 0.015 mg/L
43% of EPA limit
Nitrate0.37 / 10 mg/L
4% of EPA limit
Arsenic0.00064 / 0.01 mg/L
6% of EPA limit
Copper12 / 1300 ug/L
1% of EPA limit
Radium0.5 / 5 pCi/L
10% of EPA limit
Total Trihalomethanes28.5 / 80 ug/L
36% of EPA limit
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)16.3 / 60 ug/L
27% of EPA limit
Barium0.0191 / 2 mg/L
1% of EPA limit
Fluoride0.75 / 4 mg/L
19% of EPA limit
Toc2.8 mg/L
Unregulated
PFAS (tested — none detected)
Microplastics (not routinely tested)

Water systems serving Chicago

CHICAGO

2,721,308 servedSurface water10 contaminants2 above guidelines
View →

BLACKHAWK ESTATES LLC

1,238 servedGroundwater9 contaminants
View →

SHADY OAKS MHP

912 servedGroundwater14 contaminants1 above legal limit
View →

WILLOWAY TERRACE MHP

900 servedGroundwater7 contaminants
View →

SUNNY ACRES MHP

750 servedGroundwater16 contaminants2 above guidelines
View →

SHORELINE TRC MHP

504 servedSurface water2 contaminants
View →

PLEASANT RIDGE MHP

284 servedGroundwater25 contaminants1 above guideline
View →

ROLLING GREEN ESTATES MHP

191 servedGroundwater7 contaminants
View →

ROYAL OAKS MHP

170 servedGroundwater16 contaminants
View →

HARBOR LITES-PISTAKEE FSHG CL

132 servedGroundwater7 contaminants
View →

SANDWICH ESTATES MHP

90 servedGroundwater1 contaminants
View →

Other cities in Cook County

Water quality reports for nearby Illinois communities.

AlsipArlington HeightsBartlettBedford ParkBellwoodBerkeleyBerwynBlue IslandBridgeviewBroadviewBrookfieldBuffalo Grove

Frequently asked questions

Is Chicago, IL tap water safe to drink?
Chicago tap water has 1 contaminant currently measured above EPA legal standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels), and 5 above independent health guidelines. 10 contaminants have been detected in the water supply, including Lead, Nitrate, Arsenic, Copper, Radium. View the detailed report for each water system to see specific levels, how they compare to both legal limits and health guidelines, and what actions to take.
What contaminants are in Chicago water?
Monitoring has detected 10 contaminants in Chicago's water supply: Lead, Nitrate, Arsenic, Copper, Radium, Total Trihalomethanes, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Barium, Fluoride, Toc. 1 of these are above EPA legal limits. 5 exceed health guidelines. See individual system reports for concentrations relative to EPA limits.
Does Chicago water have PFAS?
Chicago's water has been tested for PFAS compounds with no detections. Testing was conducted as part of the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5) program.
Is Chicago water hard?
Yes. Chicago water has a hardness of 136 mg/L (hard). Hard water is not a health concern but can cause scale buildup in water heaters and appliances, reduce soap effectiveness, and leave mineral deposits. Water softeners or conditioning systems can address hardness.
Where does Chicago get its drinking water?
Chicago's drinking water comes from a combination of groundwater and surface water sources. The water is treated and tested according to Illinois EPA and EPA requirements before distribution. Chicago is served by 11 water systems, the largest being CHICAGO (serving 2,721,308 people).

Check your water quality

Enter your address for a detailed report specific to your water system.

On a private well? Search your address for nearby groundwater monitoring data.

Free water assessment in Chicago.

Schedule an onsite consultation.

For my businessFor my home