What was found in Joliet'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 818.5 µg/L 63% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 2838.5 µg/L — STATEVILLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER · 992 people · 2019 | 11/13 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 60 µg/L 0.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2780 µg/L — CRISWELL COURT MHP · 94 people · 2019 | 6/13 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 58 µg/L 0.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2622.5 µg/L — CRISWELL COURT MHP · 94 people · 2019 | 4/13 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1372 µg/L 34% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1410 µg/L — SOUTHEAST JOLIET SD · 2,000 people · 2018 | 7/13 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 57.91 µg/L 2.9% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 188.5 µg/L — GARDEN STREET IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION · 54 people · 2017 | 7/13 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 1 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 91.6355 µg/L — LAKEWOOD SHORES IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION · 868 people · 2019 | 10/13 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 59.333 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LAKEWOOD SHORES IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION · 868 people · 2019 | 9/13 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 54.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2025 | 2/13 | UCMR-5 |
| Nitrite | 50 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: INGALLS PARK SUBDIVISION · 744 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 1.475 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 45.38 µg/L — LAKEWOOD SHORES IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION · 868 people · 2019 | 10/13 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 32.57 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LAKEWOOD SHORES IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION · 868 people · 2019 | 3/13 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 28.025 µg/L 187% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 31.3 µg/L — SUNNYLAND SUBDIVISION · 300 people · 2019 | 11/13 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 20.1215 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LAKEWOOD SHORES IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION · 868 people · 2019 | 9/13 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 19.566 pCi/L 130% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 pCi/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 12.06 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LAKEWOOD SHORES IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION · 868 people · 2019 | 8/13 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 12 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: GARDEN STREET IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION · 54 people · 2017 | 2/13 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 11.53 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LAKEWOOD SHORES IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION · 868 people · 2019 | 4/13 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 11.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: STATEVILLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER · 992 people · 2019 | 2/13 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 4.95 pCi/L 99% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2019 | 7/13 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.625 µg/L — SOUTHEAST JOLIET SD · 2,000 people · 2019 | 7/13 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 3.67 µg/L 73% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.475 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.485 µg/L — LAKEWOOD SHORES IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION · 868 people · 2019 | 10/13 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 0.5990 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.35 µg/L — GARDEN STREET IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION · 54 people · 2017 | 6/13 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.52 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.2615 µg/L — INGALLS PARK SUBDIVISION · 744 people · 2018 | 4/13 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.05 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: STATEVILLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER · 992 people · 2019 | 2/13 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 1.801 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 0.5155 µg/L 1.7% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0065 mg/L 43% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: JOLIET · 160,000 people · 2026 | 12/13 | LCR |
| Pfpea | 0.0032 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CRYSTAL LAWNS ADDITION IMPROVEMENT ASSOC · 1,435 people · 2025 | 1/13 | UCMR-5 |
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 Joliet
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| JOLIET | 160,000 |
| SOUTHEAST JOLIET SD | 2,000 |
| CRYSTAL LAWNS ADDITION IMPROVEMENT ASSOC | 1,435 |
| STATEVILLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER | 992 |
| LAKEWOOD SHORES IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION | 868 |
| INGALLS PARK SUBDIVISION | 744 |
| JOLIET INPATIENT TREATMENT CENTER | 486 |
| AQUA ILLINOIS-OAKVIEW | 312 |
| SUNNYLAND SUBDIVISION | 300 |
| JOLIET TREATMENT CENTER | 217 |
| SOUTH RIDGE MHC | 96 |
| CRISWELL COURT MHP | 94 |
| GARDEN STREET IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION | 54 |
Frequently asked questions about Joliet tap water
Is Joliet tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 29 contaminants in the water serving Joliet. 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 Joliet?
13 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Joliet, Illinois to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Joliet's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Joliet include Copper, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, 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.