Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in DES PLAINES, Illinois
Tap water in DES PLAINES, Illinois receives a grade of D (66/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by DES PLAINES. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in DES PLAINES's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving DES PLAINES.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 18.6 ppb, 309x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 39.0 ppb, 260x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernBromodichloromethane detected at 11.0 ppb, 183x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for DES PLAINES (system ID IL0310630) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 10/01/2024 | Open |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Other (e.g. public notice) | 07/01/2025 | Open |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Missed reporting | 07/02/2025 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for DES PLAINES
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in DES PLAINES's water supply.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in DES PLAINES's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
18.6 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 309× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
39.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 260× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
11.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 183× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
15.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 154× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.7 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 67× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.77 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 58× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
22.2 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 56× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.39 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 37× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.04 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 35× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228)* Radiological |
0.89 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.205 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Nitrate* Inorganic |
0.297 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.1× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite* Inorganic |
0.297 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.1× over |
| Barium* Heavy metal |
19.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.8 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.00781 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.2 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.173 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.123 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.121 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione* Other |
0.175 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride* Inorganic |
0.66 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Testosterone* Other |
0.025 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from DES PLAINES.