Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in EVANSTON, Illinois
Tap water in EVANSTON, Illinois receives a grade of D (63/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by EVANSTON. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; 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 EVANSTON's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving EVANSTON.
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 21.4 ppb, 357x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 24.5 ppb, 163x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernBromodichloromethane detected at 8.25 ppb, 138x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for EVANSTON (system ID IL0310810) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
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 EVANSTON
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in EVANSTON'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.
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 EVANSTON'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 |
21.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 357× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
24.5 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 163× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.25 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 138× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
11.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 113× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
4.9 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 49× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.84 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 48× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.86 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 29× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
11.0 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 28× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.97 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 22× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.615 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
1.02 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.209 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.84 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 6.1× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.35 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.5× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.3 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.1× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.382 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
21.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.13 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.225 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0438 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.0421 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.121 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.664 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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 EVANSTON.