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Community Water System · PWS IL0310810

Evanston

Evanston, Illinois 60201 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 74,486 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

74,486
People served
99
EPA violations
2
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 99 drinking-water violations at Evanston, 2% of them health-based - above the Illinois per-system average.

99
Total EPA violations on record
2%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
74,486
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Evanston

Evanston is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 74,486 residents in Evanston, Illinois (Cook County) through 14,657 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 99 total violations for this system , of which 2 (2%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 97 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2001.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is BHC-GAMMA, recorded in 3 violations (MR). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

Across Illinois, EPA tracks 5,117 public water systems serving 12,576,876 people, with 355,322 cumulative violations and 52,932 health-based violations on record. About 81% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 69.4 violations. Statewide, 199 of 487 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (40.9%).

Evanston's 99 violations sit above the Illinois average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

Population Served
74,486
Total Violations
99
Health-Based Violations
2
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
14,657
County
Cook
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
97
Treatment Tech Violations
2

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
BHC-GAMMA MR 3 1994
Methoxychlor MR 3 1994
Carbofuran MR 3 1994
Atrazine MR 3 1994
2,4-D MR 3 1994
2,4,5-TP MR 3 1994
Pentachlorophenol MR 3 1994
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 3 1994
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 3 1994
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 3 1994
Coliform (TCR) MR 3 2001
Endrin MR 3 1994
Dalapon MR 3 1994
Endothall MR 3 1994
OXAMYL MR 3 1994
Simazine MR 3 1994
Picloram MR 3 1994
Dinoseb MR 3 1994
Aldicarb sulfone MR 3 1994
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 3 1994
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 3 1994
Heptachlor MR 3 1994
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 3 1994
Diquat MR 3 1994
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 3 1994
LASSO MR 3 1994
Aldicarb MR 3 1994
Heptachlor epoxide MR 3 1994
Toxaphene MR 3 1994
Chlordane MR 3 1994

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFHxS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/6/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/6/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/6/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/6/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/6/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/6/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/6/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/6/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Evanston.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID IL0310810 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Illinois Drinking Water Authority

Illinois EPA, Bureau of Water is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Evanston under EPA-delegated authority.

Open IL regulator portal

Source: Illinois EPA, Bureau of Water

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2001 Coliform (TCR) MR 3 SDWIS / IL0310810 / 3100
1994 BHC-GAMMA MR 3 SDWIS / IL0310810 / 2010
1994 Methoxychlor MR 3 SDWIS / IL0310810 / 2015
1994 Carbofuran MR 3 SDWIS / IL0310810 / 2046
1994 Atrazine MR 3 SDWIS / IL0310810 / 2050
1994 2,4-D MR 3 SDWIS / IL0310810 / 2105
1994 2,4,5-TP MR 3 SDWIS / IL0310810 / 2110
1994 Pentachlorophenol MR 3 SDWIS / IL0310810 / 2326
1994 Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 3 SDWIS / IL0310810 / 2383
1994 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 3 SDWIS / IL0310810 / 2931
1994 ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 3 SDWIS / IL0310810 / 2946
1994 Endrin MR 3 SDWIS / IL0310810 / 2005
1994 Dalapon MR 3 SDWIS / IL0310810 / 2031
1994 Endothall MR 3 SDWIS / IL0310810 / 2033
1994 OXAMYL MR 3 SDWIS / IL0310810 / 2036

How Evanston Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Evanston Illinois avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 99 69.4 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 2 10.3 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 40.9% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 74,486 2,458 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 5,117 regulated public water systems in Illinois.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Evanston water safe to drink? ▼
Evanston (PWS ID: IL0310810) has 99 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 74,486 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Evanston serve? ▼
Evanston serves 74,486 people in Evanston, Illinois. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 14,657 service connections.
What type of violations does Evanston have? ▼
Evanston has 99 total violations: 2 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 97 monitoring/reporting violations, and 2 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Evanston water? ▼
No. Evanston was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Evanston use? ▼
Evanston uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.