Public water system · IL0510100
ActiveBrownstown
At a glance
Brownstown (PWSID IL0510100) is an active community water system in Fayette County, Illinois. It reports serving 740 people through 360 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2026.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
740
Service connections
360
Primary source
GWP
Purchased groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Brownstown compare with other water systems in Fayette County?
By EPA's size categories, Brownstown is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Fayette County has 11 active public water systems, and Brownstown is the 5th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 55% below the county average of 1,654 people per system, and accounts for 4.1% of the 18,196 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 Brownstown is well 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. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 348 Illinois systems (9%) list purchased groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Brownstown?
EPA lists Brownstown 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. 6 of the 11 active systems in Fayette County (55%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Brownstown have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2026. The violations listed here began between April 1997 and January 2026. By type: 4 monitoring and reporting, 3 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 3 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 monitoring and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) (3 of them). EPA lists 9 as resolved, 2 as archived and 1 as unaddressed. 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. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status. Unaddressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is not yet covered by formal enforcement.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Archived |
| 2026-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Archived |
| 2025-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2023-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2022-12-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2022-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2020-12-30 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-12-01 | Required treatment not metPublic Education · code 65 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2010-10-06 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2006-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1997-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Atrazinecode 2050 | Yes | 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.
Brownstown: frequently asked questions
Who runs Brownstown?
Brownstown (PWSID IL0510100) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IL state drinking water program.
How many people does Brownstown serve?
Brownstown reports serving 740 people through 360 service connections in Fayette County, Illinois.
Where does Brownstown get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased groundwater. Purchased groundwater means the system buys groundwater from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Brownstown have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2026. 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 Brownstown'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, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2026. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IL state drinking water program.
Where can I find Brownstown's water quality report?
As a community water system, Brownstown 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 Fayette County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vandalia | Fayette | 7,616 | Community | Surface water |
| Fayette Water Company | Fayette | 5,608 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| St Elmo | Fayette | 1,272 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Ramsey | Fayette | 966 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Vandalia Correctional Center | Fayette | 700 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Farina | Fayette | 540 | 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, “Brownstown, PWSID IL0510100, Illinois”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/illinois/brownstown-il0510100 (data as of October 1, 2026).