Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
EVANSTON
EVANSTON delivers tap water graded D (63/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 74,486 residents in EVANSTON, Illinois using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 847-448-8177.
Is EVANSTON tap water safe to drink?
EVANSTON delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (63/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 74,486 residents in EVANSTON, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 15 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Trichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dibromoacetic acid, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite. 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 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.
Quick actions for EVANSTON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for 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.
Contact EVANSTON
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 EVANSTON
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 63/100 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 |
21.4 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
EVANSTON service area
This water system serves 1 community in Cook County, Illinois. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for EVANSTON water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.