What was found in Aurora's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 1900 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1420 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1340 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 86.95 µg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 329.5 µg/L — OGDEN GARDENS SUBDIVISION · 420 people · 2018 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 230 µg/L 115% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 200 µg/L Highest in the city: OGDEN GARDENS SUBDIVISION · 420 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 126 µg/L 6.3% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 56.105 µg/L 70% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 30 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 24.57 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2017 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 20.7255 pCi/L 138% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: MARGARETS HI-ACRE MHP · 300 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 19.65 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 18.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 14.2 µg/L 95% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 16.3 µg/L — MARGARETS PARK VIEW ESTATES MHP · 300 people · 2018 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 12.35 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 11 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 10.92 pCi/L 218% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2017 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 10 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 6.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 6.26 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.5 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.075 µg/L — OGDEN GARDENS SUBDIVISION · 420 people · 2018 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 4.05 µg/L 4.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.77 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 1.055 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2017 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 0.9490 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: MARGARETS HI-ACRE MHP · 300 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.9200 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 0.2831 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2014
Highest in the city: 0.6936 µg/L — MARGARETS HI-ACRE MHP · 300 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 0.6750 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2017 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 0.6000 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Benzo(A)Pyrene | 0.1720 µg/L 86% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0240 mg/L 160% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2025 | 5/5 | LCR |
| Pfba | 0.0059 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0053 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0047 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0037 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AURORA · 183,000 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Aurora
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| AURORA | 183,000 |
| OGDEN GARDENS SUBDIVISION | 420 |
| MARGARETS HI-ACRE MHP | 300 |
| MARGARETS PARK VIEW ESTATES MHP | 300 |
| AURORA COMMUNITY WATER ASSN | 150 |
Frequently asked questions about Aurora tap water
Is Aurora tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 36 contaminants in the water serving Aurora. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Aurora?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Aurora, Illinois to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Aurora's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Aurora include Nitrate, Fluoride, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Cyanide. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.