Public water system record
Western Springs
Serves Western Springs, Cook County, IL · 13,274 people served
Federal records show 1 health-based violation and 10 monitoring/reporting issues for Western Springs in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a Combined Radium (-226 and -228) violation that EPA lists as archived, not resolved.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 1
- Resolved
- 0
- Unresolved
- 0
- Archived by EPA
- 1
- Any acute record
- No
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 10
Key facts
- Western Springs draws water from 3 wells (1 of them for emergency, seasonal or other part-time use).
- Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Combined Radium (-226 and -228), 6 pCi/L, federal limit 5 pCi/L (1.2 times the limit), 2025.
- Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order (no penalty) by Illinois, March 2023.
- Record on file since 1977, with 1 health-based violation before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 395 lead and 445 unknown out of 4,519 service lines.
Check whether Western Springs serves your address
Health-based violations
Since October 2016Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.
| Contaminant | Rule family | Start date | Status | Acute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 6 pCi/L, federal limit 5 pCi/L (1.2 times the limit)
|
340 | Oct 1, 2025 |
Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
|
No |
Monitoring and reporting issues
Since October 2016Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.
| Issue | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
|
Jul 1, 2025 | Active |
|
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
|
Jul 1, 2024 | Resolved |
|
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
|
Jul 1, 2022 | Resolved |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Oct 21, 2021 | Resolved |
|
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
|
Jul 1, 2021 | Resolved |
|
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
|
Jul 1, 2021 | Resolved |
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Dec 30, 2020 | Resolved |
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Oct 1, 2020 | Resolved |
|
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
|
Jul 1, 2018 | Resolved |
|
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
|
Jul 1, 2017 | Resolved |
Full record since 1977
EPA's records for Western Springs go back to 1977. Before October 19, 2016 they list 1 health-based violation (1 archived by EPA without a recorded fix) and 1 monitoring or reporting violation.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 1 |
| 1990s | 1 | 0 |
| October 19, 2016 to 2019 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020s | 1 | 8 |
Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Coliform, began May 1991, Archived.
Show the health-based violation before October 19, 2016
| Contaminant | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
May 1, 1991 | Archived |
Enforcement actions
Illinois regulators took 1 formal enforcement action against Western Springs in 2023. The most recent was a compliance order (no penalty) in March 2023.
| Date | By | Action | Violations covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 29, 2023 | Illinois | Compliance order (no penalty) | 1 violation: Consumer Confidence Rule |
What the violations mean
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
1 incidentTest results for Combined Radium (-226 and -228) were above the federal limit (a maximum contaminant level violation).
The utility had to notify customers about this violation.
Where the water comes from
Western Springs draws water from 3 wells (1 of them for emergency, seasonal or other part-time use). 1 smaller public system such as schools, businesses or campgrounds buys water from Western Springs.
Annual water quality report
Western Springs must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.
Systems serving 10,000 or more people must mail or deliver the report to every customer, and from 2027 they must send it twice a year.
Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search
Testing your own water
To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by Illinois.
Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells