Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in WAUKEGAN, Illinois
Tap water in WAUKEGAN, Illinois receives a grade of F (56/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by WAUKEGAN. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in WAUKEGAN's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving WAUKEGAN.
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 24.4 ppb, 406x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 28.5 ppb, 190x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 16.0 ppb, 160x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for WAUKEGAN (system ID IL0971900) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Other (e.g. public notice) | 07/01/2025 | Open |
| Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 04/01/2025 | Open |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 10/01/2023 | Open |
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 04/01/2023 | 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 WAUKEGAN
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in WAUKEGAN'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 WAUKEGAN'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 |
24.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 406× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
28.5 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 190× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
16.0 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 160× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.53 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 142× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.113 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 113× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.11 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 51× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.59 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 46× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
8.13 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 41× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
15.4 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 38× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.743 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.19 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 9.5× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.617 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 6.9× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.04 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.5× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.23 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.6× over |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.01 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
33.0 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
19.3 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0128 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.542 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.249 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.113 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.124 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.096 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.576 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 WAUKEGAN.