Waukegan, IL Water Quality Report
Is Waukegan tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Waukegan, Illinois. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Waukegan tap water safe to drink? Waukegan tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 43.3 ppt across 1 compound. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in Waukegan water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Waukegan water: lithium (43.3 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Waukegan? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.
Waukegan Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Waukegan drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 43.3 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 43.3 ppt across 1 detected compound.
Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.
Top Detected Compounds
- lithium: 43.3 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
Lead in Waukegan Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 30 lead samples for Waukegan water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0131 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in Waukegan
Waukegan public water systems have 2 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Total Organic Carbon. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Waukegan: approximately 88,826.
ZIP Codes Served
What Waukegan Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
- If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
- Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually