Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
WAUKEGAN
WAUKEGAN delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 87,149 residents in WAUKEGAN, 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; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 847-263-9972.
Is WAUKEGAN tap water safe to drink?
WAUKEGAN delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 87,149 residents in WAUKEGAN, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Trichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dibromoacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), 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.
Quick actions for WAUKEGAN residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for 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.
Contact WAUKEGAN
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 WAUKEGAN
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
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 55/100 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 |
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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
WAUKEGAN service area
This water system serves 1 community in Lake County, Illinois. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for WAUKEGAN water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.