Water Quality Report
Ottawa, IL
19,288 residents · 7 water systems
2
Contaminants detected
1
PFAS compounds
—
Hardness (mg/L)
0
Above legal limits
5
Above health guidelines
Ottawa drinking water comes from groundwater wells. Based on the most recent monitoring data, 2 contaminants have been detected in the water supply, including Lead, Lithium. PFAS compounds have been detected at trace levels in Ottawa water.
Contaminants detected in Ottawa water
Detection does not necessarily mean unsafe levels. See individual reports for concentrations and EPA limits.
Lead0.005 / 0.015 mg/L
33% of EPA limit
Lithium13.1 ug/L
Unregulated
PFAS (1 compounds detected)
Microplastics (not routinely tested)
Water systems serving Ottawa
OTTAWA
18,097 servedGroundwater2 contaminants1 above guideline
NAPLATE
465 servedGroundwater0 contaminants
FIELDS HILL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
312 servedGroundwater0 contaminants1 above guideline
RETZ ADDN IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
168 servedGroundwater0 contaminants1 above guideline
LA SALLE COUNTY NURSING HOME
100 servedGroundwater0 contaminants
LAND AND WTR ASSN
83 servedGroundwater0 contaminants1 above guideline
OAKLANE SBDV
63 servedGroundwater0 contaminants1 above guideline
Frequently asked questions
Is Ottawa, IL tap water safe to drink?
Ottawa tap water meets EPA legal standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels). However, 5 contaminants are present above independent health guidelines, which are often stricter than legal limits. 2 contaminants have been detected in the water supply, including Lead, Lithium. View the detailed report for each water system to see specific levels and how they compare to both legal limits and health guidelines.
What contaminants are in Ottawa water?
Monitoring has detected 2 contaminants in Ottawa's water supply: Lead, Lithium. Additionally, 1 PFAS compounds have been detected at trace levels. 5 exceed health guidelines. See individual system reports for concentrations relative to EPA limits.
Does Ottawa water have PFAS?
Yes. 1 PFAS compounds have been detected in Ottawa's water supply at trace levels. PFAS are sometimes called "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in the environment. The EPA has set Maximum Contaminant Levels for several PFAS compounds. View the detailed report for specific concentrations.
Where does Ottawa get its drinking water?
Ottawa's drinking water comes from groundwater wells that draw from underground aquifers. The water is treated and tested according to Illinois EPA and EPA requirements before distribution. Ottawa is served by 7 water systems, the largest being OTTAWA (serving 18,097 people).
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