Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
ROCKFORD
ROCKFORD delivers tap water graded C (72/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 147,051 residents in ROCKFORD, Illinois using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 779-348-7654.
Is ROCKFORD tap water safe to drink?
ROCKFORD delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (72/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 147,051 residents in ROCKFORD, drawing from groundwater. Despite being legal under US EPA standards, this water would fail the European Union's Drinking Water Directive, primarily due to perfluorohexane sulfonate (pfhxs) significantly above health guideline.
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Arsenic, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Bromodichloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Chloroform, Dibromochloromethane, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, 1,4-Dioxane, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate and nitrite, Nitrate. 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 ROCKFORD (system ID IL2010300) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic Organic Chemicals | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2023 | Open |
| Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 10/01/2024 | Open |
| Volatile Organic Chemicals | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2023 | 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 ROCKFORD residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for ROCKFORD.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.951 ppt, 951x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 4.72 ppb, 79x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.278 ppb, 70x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Contact ROCKFORD
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 ROCKFORD
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.
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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 72/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.951 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 951× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
4.72 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 79× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.278 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 70× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
9.46 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 63× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
2.47 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 49× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 40× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
1.88 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
6.22 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.829 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.3× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.466 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 7.8× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.678 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.8× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.938 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.7× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
1.5 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 4.3× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0762 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.8× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.482 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.4× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.377 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.7× over |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
57.9 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Fails EU |
| Pentachlorophenol Other |
0.16 ppb | 0.3 | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.205 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
155.2 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.307 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0277 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.964 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
3.25 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cobalt Other |
0.94 ppb | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.267 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.296 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.149 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.12 ppb | 60.0 | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
1.01 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.361 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.126 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.052 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane Other |
0.119 ppb | — | 200.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.00354 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
2.31 ppb | — | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.699 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Testosterone Other |
0.003 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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.
ROCKFORD service area
This water system serves 1 community in Winnebago County, Illinois. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for ROCKFORD water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.