Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
DECATUR
DECATUR delivers tap water graded C (70/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 76,122 residents in DECATUR, Illinois using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 217-424-2863.
Is DECATUR tap water safe to drink?
DECATUR delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (70/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 76,122 residents in DECATUR, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Chromium (hexavalent), Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Nitrate, Chlorite. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for DECATUR (system ID IL1150150) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 10/01/2023 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for DECATUR residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for DECATUR.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 21.1 ppb, 352x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 44.7 ppb, 298x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernBromodichloromethane detected at 8.86 ppb, 148x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact DECATUR
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for DECATUR
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 70/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
21.1 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 352× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
44.7 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 298× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.86 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 148× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
13.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 133× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
1.77 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 89× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
32.2 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 81× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
9.64 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 48× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.51 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 35× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.684 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 23× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.13 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.56 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 18× over |
| Chlorite Disinfection byproduct |
484.2 ppb | 50.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | 9.7× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
141.2 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0467 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.128 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.05 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.694 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
6.13 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.261 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
3.67 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.111 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.385 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0388 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.068 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dicamba Other |
0.32 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.712 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
DECATUR service area
This water system serves 1 community in Macon County, Illinois. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for DECATUR water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.