What was found in Galena'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 1400 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: PRAIRIE PATH WATER-BAHL WATER COMPANY · 700 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1400 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: PRAIRIE PATH WATER-BAHL WATER COMPANY · 700 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1214 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: GALENA · 3,308 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1250 µg/L — PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-APPLE CANYON · 931 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 406.05 µg/L 31% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: GALENA · 3,308 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 416 µg/L — PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-APPLE CANYON · 931 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 142.65 µg/L 7.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: GALENA · 3,308 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 163 µg/L — PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-GALENA · 2,294 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 21 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: GALENA · 3,308 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 11.5 µg/L 77% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: GALENA · 3,308 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 16.5 µg/L — PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-GALENA · 2,294 people · 2018 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 2.2314 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: GALENA · 3,308 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.8 µg/L — PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-APPLE CANYON · 931 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 4.089 µg/L 5.1% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: GALENA · 3,308 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.9115 µg/L — PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-APPLE CANYON · 931 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1.1959 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GALENA · 3,308 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.1 µg/L — PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-APPLE CANYON · 931 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 3.005 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GALENA · 3,308 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.002 µg/L — PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-APPLE CANYON · 931 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 6.09 pCi/L 122% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Main supplier: GALENA · 3,308 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 4.934 µg/L 9.9% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: WIENEN ESTATES · 95 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3.92 µg/L 39% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-GALENA · 2,294 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1.09 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GALENA · 3,308 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.7 µg/L — PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-APPLE CANYON · 931 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1.2015 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GALENA · 3,308 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.63 µg/L — PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-GALENA · 2,294 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.01 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-GALENA · 2,294 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.81 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-GALENA · 2,294 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0032 mg/L 21% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: GALENA · 3,308 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0110 mg/L — PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-GALENA · 2,294 people · 2024 | 5/5 | 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 Galena
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| GALENA | 3,308 |
| PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-GALENA | 2,294 |
| PRAIRIE PATH WATER COMPANY-APPLE CANYON | 931 |
| PRAIRIE PATH WATER-BAHL WATER COMPANY | 700 |
| WIENEN ESTATES | 95 |
Frequently asked questions about Galena tap water
Is Galena tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 19 contaminants in the water serving Galena. 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 Galena?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Galena, Illinois to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Galena's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Galena include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Barium. 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.