What was found in Pekin'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-Nitrite | 7425 µg/L 74% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2018 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 7220 µg/L 72% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 653 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1500 µg/L — PEKIN FED CORRECTIONAL INST AND PRSNCMP · 1,635 people · 2018 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1124 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2018 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 400 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2018 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 100 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2018 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 32.88 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 17.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2024 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 17.15 µg/L 114% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2017 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 13.08 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 12.68 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 9.265 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 5.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.0085 µg/L — PEKIN FED CORRECTIONAL INST AND PRSNCMP · 1,635 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 5.4 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2018 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 4.46 µg/L 7.4% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 4.13 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2012 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3.67 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 2.02 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.4295 µg/L — PEKIN FED CORRECTIONAL INST AND PRSNCMP · 1,635 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.7420 pCi/L 15% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2012 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| PFBS | 0.0104 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2024 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0083 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2024 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0062 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2024 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0060 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2024 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| PFNA | 0.0045 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2024 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0044 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2024 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0044 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2024 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0010 mg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: IL AMERICAN-PEKIN · 31,731 people · 2025 | 2/3 | 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 Pekin
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| IL AMERICAN-PEKIN | 31,731 |
| PEKIN FED CORRECTIONAL INST AND PRSNCMP | 1,635 |
| UAW SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER | 240 |
Frequently asked questions about Pekin tap water
Is Pekin tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 28 contaminants in the water serving Pekin. 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 Pekin?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Pekin, Illinois to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Pekin's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Pekin include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, 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.