What was found in Macomb'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 | 4500 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 4092.9999999999995 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1913.9999999999995 µg/L 48% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 339.4349999999997 µg/L 2263% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2017 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 110.49999999999997 µg/L 8.5% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 304.99999999999994 µg/L — STRATFORD WEST ASSOCIATION, INC. · 44 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 120 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: STRATFORD WEST ASSOCIATION, INC. · 44 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 105.045 µg/L 131% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 25.889999999999997 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 62.6825 µg/L — STRATFORD WEST ASSOCIATION, INC. · 44 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 45.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2024 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 43.85 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 22.6 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 39.9 µg/L — STRATFORD WEST ASSOCIATION, INC. · 44 people · 2018 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 27 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 30.645000000000003 µg/L — KILJORDAN MEADOWS · 282 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 27.66999999999999 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 21.25 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22.3 µg/L — WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY · 8,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 16.131049999999995 pCi/L 323% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 13.950000000000003 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15.014999999999999 µg/L — WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY · 8,000 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 11.124999999999996 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 5.191999999999999 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.1 µg/L — STRATFORD WEST ASSOCIATION, INC. · 44 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 11 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 9.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 9.5 µg/L 9.5% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 5.795 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.555 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.3200 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0043 mg/L 29% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: MACOMB · 15,051 people · 2025 | 4/4 | LCR |
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 Macomb
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| MACOMB | 15,051 |
| WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY | 8,000 |
| KILJORDAN MEADOWS | 282 |
| STRATFORD WEST ASSOCIATION, INC. | 44 |
Frequently asked questions about Macomb tap water
Is Macomb tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Macomb. 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 Macomb?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Macomb, Illinois to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Macomb's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Macomb include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Lead, Copper. 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.