Drinking water quality · 2023
· Verified
What's in Chicago, IL tap water
16 contaminants were measured in the Chicago, IL water system's 2023 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2023
- Contaminants measured
- 16
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Service area
- IL
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Chicago, IL's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 4 sources.
Source
- INTAKE (00104) JARDINE SHORE INTAKE
- INTAKE (00105) SAWYER PLANT SHORE INTAKE
- INTAKE (01305) DUNNE INTAKE CRIB
- INTAKE (01306) JARDINE DEVER INTAKE CRIB
Treatment
- TP 01-JARDINE PLANT
- TP 02-SAWYER PLANT
Distribution
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based1 violation on record · most recent Jan 1993resolved
- Reporting1 violation on record · most recent Jul 20251 open
- Other1 violation on record · most recent Jun 20251 open
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 15.9–51 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 6–26.9 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0.0077 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.052 mg/L90th percentileSystem-wide | 1.3 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.0203 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 9.18 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.39 NTUReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 3.1 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0.95 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.76 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.39 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 28.2 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate Nitrite | 0.39 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. | 0Reported levelSystem-wide | 0MCLG | None detected |
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0.4 %Reported levelSystem-wide | 0 %MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Chicago, IL's water
+Is Chicago, IL tap water safe to drink in 2023?
Every one of the 16 contaminants measured in Chicago, IL's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report is below its federal limit. "Safe" under the EPA's drinking-water standards is health-based, not aesthetic — but by those standards, no measured contaminant in this report exceeds its enforceable threshold. Individual health concerns (e.g. immunocompromised, infant, pregnancy) may warrant additional filtering regardless of compliance.
+What contaminants are in Chicago, IL tap water?
16 contaminants were measured in Chicago, IL's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, inorganic chemicals, and disinfection byproducts. 11 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Chicago, IL's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Chicago, IL's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2023 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.