Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in ELGIN, Illinois
Tap water in ELGIN, Illinois receives a grade of F (49/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by ELGIN. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in ELGIN's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving ELGIN.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 18.5 ppb, 309x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 37.6 ppb, 251x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.906 ppb, 226x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for ELGIN (system ID IL0894380) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Other (e.g. public notice) | 07/01/2024 | Open |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 04/01/2025 | Open |
| Synthetic Organic Chemicals | Missed testing or reporting | 07/01/2024 | Open |
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 11/01/2024 | 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 ELGIN
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in ELGIN's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
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 ELGIN'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 |
18.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 309× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
37.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 251× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.906 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 226× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
11.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 191× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
14.8 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 148× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.45 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 65× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.78 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 58× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.49 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 50× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
18.4 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 46× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.28 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 36× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.395 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.01 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 11× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.41 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 8.2× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.622 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 4.4× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.26 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.5× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.686 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 2.3× over |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.503 ppb | 3.0 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
101.6 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.045 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chloromethane Other |
0.275 ppb | 2.69 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
2.48 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.875 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Antimony Heavy metal |
0.0405 ppb | 1.0 | 6.0 | 10 | 20 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.631 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
3.25 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.134 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.139 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.94 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.0833 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.971 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.376 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1-Butanol Other |
0.713 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.73 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dalapon Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.474 ppb | — | 200.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.683 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0375 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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 ELGIN.