What was found in Petersburg'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 | 1720 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1637.5 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 576.4 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2017 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 268.55 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 335.8999999999998 µg/L — NEW SALEM PWD · 451 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 23.16 µg/L 154% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 274.8499999999999 µg/L — MENARD RURAL WATER COOP · 753 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 24.054999999999996 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 133.8 µg/L — NEW SALEM PWD · 451 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 7.484999999999999 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 57.825 µg/L — NEW SALEM PWD · 451 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 8.03 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 46.125 µg/L — NEW SALEM PWD · 451 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 9.844999999999999 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 40.775 µg/L — NEW SALEM PWD · 451 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 8.15 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 33.15 µg/L — NEW SALEM PWD · 451 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 20.336 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2017 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 4.504999999999999 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 18.2 µg/L — NEW SALEM PWD · 451 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.2199999999999998 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.075 µg/L — MENARD RURAL WATER COOP · 753 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 3.375 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.8 µg/L — NEW SALEM PWD · 451 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.92 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.304999999999995 µg/L — NEW SALEM PWD · 451 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 6.436 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NEW SALEM PWD · 451 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 5.06 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NEW SALEM PWD · 451 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 1.06 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.5000 pCi/L 10% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 people · 2014 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: PETERSBURG · 4,725 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 Petersburg
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| PETERSBURG | 4,725 |
| MENARD RURAL WATER COOP | 753 |
| NEW SALEM PWD | 451 |
| OLD SALEM CHAUTAUQUA | 128 |
Frequently asked questions about Petersburg tap water
Is Petersburg tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 20 contaminants in the water serving Petersburg. 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 Petersburg?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Petersburg, Illinois to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Petersburg's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Petersburg include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Lead. 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.