Public water system · IL0490050
ActiveAltamont
At a glance
Altamont (PWSID IL0490050) is an active community water system in Effingham County, Illinois. It reports serving 2,300 people through 1,100 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2023.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
2,300
Service connections
1,100
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Altamont compare with other water systems in Effingham County?
By EPA's size categories, Altamont is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Effingham County has 14 active public water systems, and Altamont is the 3rd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 34% above the county average of 1,721 people per system, and accounts for 9.5% of the 24,087 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Illinois, the 3,872 active systems average 3,204 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Altamont is about 66% below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Illinois has 1,773 active community water systems, 46% of the state's 3,872 active systems. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 89 Illinois systems (2.3%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Altamont?
EPA lists Altamont as owned by a local government. The IL state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 9 of the 14 active systems in Effingham County (64%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Altamont have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2023. The violations listed here began between April 2001 and July 2023. By type: 4 monitoring and reporting, 3 required treatment not met, 3 contaminant level above the legal limit and 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (3 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-07-01 | Required treatment not metMonthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 44 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2023-06-01 | Required treatment not metMonthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 44 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-10-30 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-11-22 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2007-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2005-04-01 | Required treatment not metSingle Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 43 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2004-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Carbon, totalcode 2920 | No | Resolved |
| 2001-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Cyanidecode 1024 | No | Resolved |
| 2001-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Fluoridecode 1025 | No | Resolved |
| 2001-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Chromiumcode 1020 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Altamont: frequently asked questions
Who runs Altamont?
Altamont (PWSID IL0490050) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IL state drinking water program.
How many people does Altamont serve?
Altamont reports serving 2,300 people through 1,100 service connections in Effingham County, Illinois.
Where does Altamont get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does Altamont have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2023. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Altamont's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2023. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IL state drinking water program.
Where can I find Altamont's water quality report?
As a community water system, Altamont must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Effingham County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effingham | Effingham | 12,252 | Community | Surface water |
| Lake Sara Area Water Co-Op, Inc.. | Effingham | 3,352 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Teutopolis | Effingham | 2,018 | Community | Groundwater |
| Heartville PWD | Effingham | 1,092 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Dieterich | Effingham | 900 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Ej Water-Watson | Effingham | 754 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Altamont, PWSID IL0490050, Illinois”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/illinois/altamont-il0490050 (data as of October 1, 2026).