Is South Elgin, IL Tap Water Safe? Quality & Contaminants

What was found in South Elgin's water

The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.

Contaminant	Level vs EPA limit	Suppliers	Source
Barium	5500 µg/L 275% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 2000 µg/L	2/2	SYR4
Copper	4200 µg/L 323% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L	2/2	SYR4
Fluoride	1260 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L	2/2	SYR4
Nitrate	960 µg/L 9.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L	1/2	SYR4
Nitrate-Nitrite	550 µg/L 5.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L	1/2	SYR4
Lead	520 µg/L 3467% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L	2/2	SYR4
TTHM	52.89 µg/L 66% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L	2/2	SYR4
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	24.2 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L	2/2	SYR4
Chloroform	22.33 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/2	SYR4
Lithium	19.1 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/2	UCMR-5
Bromodichloromethane	17 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/2	SYR4
Trichloroacetic Acid	16.6 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/2	SYR4
Dibromochloromethane	13.8 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/2	SYR4
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U	9.99 pCi/L 67% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L	1/2	SYR4
Dichloroacetic Acid	7.6 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/2	SYR4
Monobromoacetic Acid	4.61 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/2	SYR4
Combined Radium (-226 And -228)	4.57 pCi/L 91% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L	2/2	SYR4
Bromoform	4.47 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/2	SYR4
Dibromoacetic Acid	3.8 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/2	SYR4
Selenium	2.3 µg/L 4.6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L	1/2	SYR4
Tetrachloroethylene	2.2 µg/L 44% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L	1/2	SYR4
Arsenic	1.8 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L	1/2	SYR4
Carbon Tetrachloride	0.5900 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L	1/2	SYR4
PFBS	0.0097 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/2	UCMR-5
Pfba	0.0080 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/2	UCMR-5
Pfpea	0.0076 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/2	UCMR-5
Lead	0.0066 mg/L 44% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L	2/2	LCR
PFOA	0.0057 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/2	UCMR-5
Pfhxa	0.0051 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/2	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 single worst sample on record — 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 South Elgin

Supplier	Population served
SOUTH ELGIN	23,648
SILVER GLEN HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION	595

Frequently asked questions about South Elgin tap water

Is South Elgin tap water safe to drink?

EPA testing detected 29 contaminants in the water serving South Elgin. 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 South Elgin?

2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for South Elgin, Illinois to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.

What contaminants are in South Elgin's water?

The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in South Elgin include Barium, Copper, Fluoride, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite. The full list, with the highest level found 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.