Public water system record
North Chicago
Serves North Chicago, Lake County, IL · 16,813 people served
Federal records show 2 health-based violations and 6 monitoring/reporting issues for North Chicago in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a resolved Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate violation.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 2
- Resolved
- 2
- Unresolved
- 0
- Any acute record
- No
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 6
Key facts
- North Chicago draws water from 2 surface water intakes.
- Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, 8 µg/L, federal limit 6 µg/L (1.3 times the limit), 2024.
- Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order (no penalty) by Illinois, October 2023.
- Record on file since 1977, with 2 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 849 lead and 4,804 unknown out of 5,653 service lines.
Check whether North Chicago 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 8 µg/L, federal limit 6 µg/L (1.3 times the limit)
|
320 | Apr 1, 2024 | Resolved | No |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.083 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
|
220 | Apr 1, 2023 | Resolved | 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 |
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jul 1, 2025 | Active |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Jun 20, 2024 | Resolved |
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Resolved |
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring and reporting
|
Feb 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Monitoring and reporting
|
Feb 1, 2019 | Resolved |
Full record since 1977
EPA's records for North Chicago go back to 1977. Before October 19, 2016 they list 2 health-based violations (2 resolved) and 25 monitoring or reporting violations.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 1 |
| 1990s | 0 | 1 |
| 2000s | 1 | 23 |
| 2010 to October 18, 2016 | 1 | 0 |
| October 19, 2016 to 2019 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020s | 2 | 4 |
Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Coliform, began February 2012, Resolved.
Show all 2 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
| Contaminant | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Feb 1, 2012 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Jan 1, 2005 | Resolved |
Enforcement actions
Illinois regulators took 2 formal enforcement actions against North Chicago between 2005 and 2023. The most recent was a compliance order (no penalty) in October 2023.
| Date | By | Action | Violations covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 2023 | Illinois | Compliance order (no penalty) | 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) |
| Apr 12, 2005 | Illinois | Signed compliance agreement | 1 violation (1 health-based): Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule |
What the violations mean
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
1 incidentTest results for Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate were above the federal limit (a maximum contaminant level violation).
The utility had to notify customers about this violation.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
1 incidentDisinfection byproduct levels exceeded the federal limit
Long-term TTHM exposure may increase bladder cancer risk
Where the water comes from
North Chicago draws water from 2 surface water intakes. It also has emergency connections to Waukegan and Great Lakes Naval Training Station. 1 other community water system buys water from North Chicago. 2 other public water systems have emergency connections to North Chicago.
Emergency or part-time connections to
- Waukegan Waukegan, IL
- Great Lakes Naval Training Station Great Lakes, IL
Community systems that buy water from it
- Lake Co. PW - Arden Shores Estates Libertyville, IL
Annual water quality report
North Chicago 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