Public water system record
Sparta
Serves Sparta, Randolph County, IL · 4,395 people served
Federal records show 8 health-based violations and 11 monitoring/reporting issues for Sparta in the last ten years, including an unresolved LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS violation.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 8
- Resolved
- 7
- Unresolved
- 1
- Any acute record
- No
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 11
Key facts
- Sparta draws water from 2 surface water intakes.
- Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), 0.099 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.7 times the limit), 2016.
- Most recent formal enforcement: signed compliance agreement by Illinois, October 2010.
- Record on file since 1977, with 14 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 0 lead and 0 unknown out of 13 service lines.
Check whether Sparta 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
Treatment technique failure
|
350 | Oct 17, 2024 | Active | No |
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.067 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
220 | Jan 1, 2021 | Resolved | No |
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.081 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.4 times the limit)
|
220 | Oct 1, 2020 | Resolved | No |
|
CARBON, TOTAL
Treatment technique failure
|
210 | Oct 1, 2017 | Resolved | No |
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.093 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.6 times the limit)
|
220 | Jul 1, 2017 | Resolved | No |
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.094 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.6 times the limit)
|
220 | Apr 1, 2017 | Resolved | No |
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.096 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.6 times the limit)
|
220 | Jan 1, 2017 | Resolved | No |
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.099 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.7 times the limit)
|
220 | Oct 1, 2016 | Resolved | No |
Monitoring and reporting issues
Since October 2016Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.
| Issue | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Oct 1, 2025 | Active |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Aug 22, 2025 | Resolved |
|
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
RPT
|
Jul 2, 2025 | Active |
|
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
|
Jul 1, 2023 | Resolved |
|
Chloramine
Monitoring and reporting
|
Apr 1, 2023 | Resolved |
|
Chloramine
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jul 1, 2022 | Resolved |
|
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Monitoring violation
|
Jul 1, 2022 | Resolved |
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Dec 30, 2021 | Resolved |
|
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Monitoring violation
|
Dec 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Chloramine
Monitoring and reporting
|
Oct 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Feb 17, 2018 | Resolved |
Full record since 1977
EPA's records for Sparta go back to 1977. Before October 19, 2016 they list 14 health-based violations (13 resolved, 1 archived by EPA without a recorded fix) and 12 monitoring or reporting violations.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 1 |
| 1980s | 0 | 7 |
| 1990s | 1 | 1 |
| 2000s | 1 | 2 |
| 2010 to October 18, 2016 | 12 | 1 |
| October 19, 2016 to 2019 | 4 | 3 |
| 2020s | 3 | 8 |
Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), began October 2016, Resolved.
Show all 14 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
| Contaminant | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.099 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.7 times the limit)
|
Oct 1, 2016 | Resolved |
|
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Nov 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Oct 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Sep 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Aug 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Jul 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Jun 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
May 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Apr 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 64 µg/L, federal limit 60 µg/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
Jul 1, 2010 | Resolved |
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 66 µg/L, federal limit 60 µg/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
Apr 1, 2010 | Resolved |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 86 µg/L, federal limit 80 µg/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
Apr 1, 2010 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Dec 1, 2005 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
May 1, 1992 | Archived |
Enforcement actions
Illinois regulators took 2 formal enforcement actions against Sparta between 2006 and 2010. The most recent was a signed compliance agreement in October 2010.
| Date | By | Action | Violations covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 2010 | Illinois | Signed compliance agreement | 3 violations (3 health-based): Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) |
| Apr 17, 2006 | Illinois | Signed compliance agreement | 1 violation (1 health-based): Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule |
What the violations mean
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
6 incidentsHaloacetic acid byproducts exceeded the federal limit
Long-term exposure to HAAs may increase cancer risk
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
1 incidentThe system did not complete a treatment step or action that the LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS requires (a treatment technique violation).
The utility had to notify customers about this violation.
CARBON, TOTAL
1 incidentThe system did not complete a treatment step or action that federal rules require for CARBON, TOTAL (a treatment technique violation).
The utility had to notify customers about this violation.
Where the water comes from
Sparta draws water from 2 surface water intakes. 2 other community water systems and 2 smaller public systems such as schools, businesses or campgrounds buy water from Sparta.
Community systems that buy water from it
- Coulterville Coulterville, IL
- Egyptian Water Company Nashville, IL
Annual water quality report
Sparta 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.
Where the state allows it, systems serving fewer than 10,000 people may publish the report in a local newspaper or news site instead of mailing it, and must provide a copy on request.
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