What was found in Benton's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 903.95 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: REND LAKE INTER-CITY WATER SYSTEM · 3,650 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Chlorite | 490 µg/L 49% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: REND LAKE INTER-CITY WATER SYSTEM · 3,650 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 227 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Highest in the city: REND LAKE INTER-CITY WATER SYSTEM · 3,650 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 130 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: REND LAKE INTER-CITY WATER SYSTEM · 3,650 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 128.5 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: REND LAKE INTER-CITY WATER SYSTEM · 3,650 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 58.705 µg/L 73% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: BENTON · 8,104 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 72.244 µg/L — HILL CITY WATER DISTRICT · 543 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 64.384 µg/L 429% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: BENTON · 8,104 people · 2017 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 45.345 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BENTON · 8,104 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 57.09 µg/L — HILL CITY WATER DISTRICT · 543 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 28.92 µg/L 48% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: BENTON · 8,104 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 26.42 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: REND LAKE INTER-CITY WATER SYSTEM · 3,650 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 24.545 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BENTON · 8,104 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 11.245 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BENTON · 8,104 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.455 µg/L — HILL CITY WATER DISTRICT · 543 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 4.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BENTON · 8,104 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.25 µg/L — REND LAKE INTER-CITY WATER SYSTEM · 3,650 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BENTON · 8,104 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.4 µg/L — REND LAKE INTER-CITY WATER SYSTEM · 3,650 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BENTON · 8,104 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2.5 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: REND LAKE INTER-CITY WATER SYSTEM · 3,650 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.52 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BENTON · 8,104 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.145 µg/L — HILL CITY WATER DISTRICT · 543 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.14 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: HILL CITY WATER DISTRICT · 543 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.08 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: REND LAKE INTER-CITY WATER SYSTEM · 3,650 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Simazine | 0.5305 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L Highest in the city: REND LAKE INTER-CITY WATER SYSTEM · 3,650 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.5025 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Highest in the city: REND LAKE INTER-CITY WATER SYSTEM · 3,650 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.2600 pCi/L 5.2% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: REND LAKE INTER-CITY WATER SYSTEM · 3,650 people · 2014 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: BENTON · 8,104 people · 2025 | 3/4 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Benton
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| BENTON | 8,104 |
| REND LAKE INTER-CITY WATER SYSTEM | 3,650 |
| HILL CITY WATER DISTRICT | 543 |
| REND LAKE MOBILE HOME PARK | 65 |
Frequently asked questions about Benton tap water
Is Benton tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Benton. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Benton?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Benton, Illinois to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Benton's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Benton include Fluoride, Chlorite, Copper, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.