What was found in South Elgin'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 | 2500 µg/L 192% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 1915 µg/L 96% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1227.5 µg/L 31% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 780 µg/L 7.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 539 µg/L 5.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 46.65 µg/L 58% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 19.96 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 19.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 16.668 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 16.145 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 13.7825 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 11.804 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 10.9 µg/L 73% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.73 µg/L — SILVER GLEN HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION · 595 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 9.856 pCi/L 66% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: SILVER GLEN HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION · 595 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 7.575 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.25 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.61 µg/L — SILVER GLEN HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION · 595 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.4585 pCi/L 49% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.5105 pCi/L — SILVER GLEN HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION · 595 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 4.0183 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3.575 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.3 µg/L 4.6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.775 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 1.7 µg/L 34% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | 0.5900 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| PFBS | 0.0097 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0080 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0076 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0014 mg/L 9.3% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2026
Highest in the city: 0.0066 mg/L — SILVER GLEN HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION · 595 people · 2024 | 2/2 | LCR |
| PFOA | 0.0057 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0051 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH ELGIN · 23,648 people · 2025 | 1/2 | 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 South Elgin
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SOUTH ELGIN | 23,648 |
| SILVER GLEN HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION | 595 |
Frequently asked questions about South Elgin tap water
Is South Elgin tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 29 contaminants in the water serving South Elgin. 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 South Elgin?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for South Elgin, Illinois to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in South Elgin's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in South Elgin include Copper, Barium, Fluoride, 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.